José Modesto Darcourt

Cuban left-handed pitcher, considered one of the best pitchers of the so-called wrong arm. Nicknamed El Chiqui, he made his debut in the seventeenth National Series with Constructores, the capital's team, and was an outstanding pitcher in the 1970s to 80s with the Metropolitanos teams and played his last three Series with Industriales.
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He was born in the Camilo Cienfuegos neighborhood, in La Habana del Este, Cuba. Nicknamed El Chiqui, by his father Gerardo Modesto Darcourt who was a scorekeeper at Estadio Latinoamericano for many years.

He debuted in the XVI National Series with Constructores, number 5 of the capital. He was an outstanding pitcher in the era from the 70s to the 80s with the Metropolitanos teams, achieving a third place finish as a great result. He stood out for his intelligence in pitching, enjoying a good fastball, curveball and change-up.

His dream came true when he coincided with his idol Santiago Changa Mederos during this player's last three seasons. After finishing in 1987 the series with Metropolitanos, he went to play with the blues his last three series. His duels with Antonio Muñoz, El Gigante del Escambray, with the Pinar del Río native Lázaro Madera, for being a bad-ball hitter, and with Mr. Home Run Pedro José Rodríguez were famous.

He was a very difficult left-hander to hit, according to Darcourt's own words the only one who batted him easily was Pedro Jova. He reached a thousand strikeouts at his beloved Estadio Latinoamericano. In the fourteen seasons he played, he was part of the Cuban teams at the World Championship held in Japan in 1980 and the Intercontinental Cup in Edmonton in 1981, years in which he was undoubtedly the best left-hander in Cuba.

Among his outstanding results are the following:

During the XXIV Series in 1985 he becomes the 16th pitcher to reach 100 victories in National Series and second in the capital after fellow left-hander Changa Mederos.

Leader in complete games in the Nationals 1979-1980, tied with Braudilio Vinent, and 1981-1982 with 13 and 12 respectively.

Leader in games won in the 1982 National with a total of 12 victories.

He led shutouts in the 1978 Selective Series with 3, tied with Rogelio García, and 1980 also with 3, and in the 1979-1980 National with 5.

Leader in games started with 15, in the 1980 Selective.

Top accumulator of strikeouts in the VI Selective Series held in 1980 with a total of 91 strikeouts, although he was also first in walks with 54.

Second in strikeouts with 125 behind Vinent, in the 1979-1980 National

At the time of his retirement he was barely 32 years old, where he was in the top 10 in various categories. He was fourth in walks, sixth in strikeouts and third among left-handers behind Santiago "Changa" Mederos and Jorge Luis "Tati" Valdés, eighth in complete games and home runs allowed, ninth in games started, tenth in shutouts, and in losses, eleventh in victories and games pitched. In the categories of games pitched, started, complete, shutouts and victories he was second among left-handers behind who has been the best pitcher of that arm in Nationals, the Matanzas native Jorge Luis Valdés. Furthermore, he had a fabulous earned run average of 2.83, achieved in the era of aluminum and the lively ball.

Victim of colon cancer, he died in La Habana on February 17, 2014[