Darrell Jackson (baseball) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Darrell Jackson |
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| Pitcher | |||
| Born: April 3, 1956 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| June 16, 1978, for the Minnesota Twins | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| June 1, 1982, for the Minnesota Twins | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Win–loss record | 20–27 | ||
| Earned run average | 4.38 | ||
| Strikeouts | 229 | ||
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Darrell Preston Jackson was born on April 3, 1956. He is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played for five seasons in the major leagues. All his time was spent with the Minnesota Twins, from 1978 to 1982.
Contents
Darrell Jackson's Baseball Journey
Starting His Path in Baseball
Darrell Jackson was first chosen by the Twins in the 1973 Major League Baseball Draft. This happened right after he finished high school. However, he decided not to sign with them at that time. Instead, he chose to play college baseball. He went to Arizona State University. While playing there, he made it to the College World Series three times. This was during his last three years at the university.
Joining the Minnesota Twins
In 1977, the Minnesota Twins drafted Darrell again. This time, it was in the 9th round of the amateur draft. He began his professional career in 1978. He played for the Orlando Twins, a minor league team. In his very first game, he pitched nine innings without letting the other team get a single hit. This amazing performance was against the Jacksonville Suns. The game was tied after nine innings. Darrell was then replaced by another pitcher, Jeff Holly. The Orlando team eventually won the game 1–0 in 12 innings.
Making It to the Major Leagues
After playing only 10 games in the minor leagues, Darrell Jackson was called up. He joined the Minnesota Twins in June 1978. During that year, he played in 19 games. He won 4 games and lost 6. His ERA was 4.48. He also pitched one complete game where the other team scored no runs. This happened on July 7, 1978, against the Oakland Athletics.
Playing Full Seasons
In 1979, Darrell split his time between the Twins and their Triple-A team. This team was called the Toledo Mud Hens. In the major leagues, he played in 24 games. He started 8 of those games. He had 4 wins and 4 losses, with an ERA of 4.28.
The year 1980 was Darrell Jackson's first full season in the major leagues. It was also his only full season. He had his best year, setting new personal records. He won 9 games and had an ERA of 3.87. He also recorded 90 strikeouts. On June 21, 1980, Darrell earned his only save in a major league game. He got the last batter out to help the Twins win 3-2.
Later Career and Retirement
Darrell spent most of 1981 dealing with a shoulder injury. He played in only 14 major league games. He also played in 2 games at the Triple-A level. In 1982, his performance changed. He lost 5 games and won none. His ERA went up to 6.25, which was his highest. Things were also tough in the minor leagues. He won 1 game and lost 3, with an ERA of 7.00. On July 26, the Twins decided to release Darrell Jackson. After that, he did not play professional baseball again.
Life After Baseball
Today, Darrell Jackson runs a non-profit organization. It is called the 1020 Club, Inc. This organization helps young people who are at risk.
