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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| Died: July 5, 2026 (aged 70) La Habra, 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 | ||
| Teams | |||
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Darrell Preston Jackson (born April 3, 1956, died July 5, 2026) was a talented American professional pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for five seasons, from 1978 to 1982, always with the Minnesota Twins.
Contents
Darrell Jackson: A Baseball Story
Early Life and College Baseball
Darrell Jackson went to Locke High School in Los Angeles. There, he played baseball with two future baseball legends. These were Baseball Hall of Famers Eddie Murray and Ozzie Smith. Even though he was chosen in the 1973 baseball draft, he decided to go to college. He chose Arizona State University to play college baseball instead.
He was a star player for the Arizona State Sun Devils. He helped his team reach the College World Series three times. In 1977, he pitched an amazing game. He allowed only three hits in the semifinals. This helped his team win the national championship!
Playing in the Major Leagues
The Minnesota Twins drafted Darrell again in 1977. He started his professional career in 1978. He played for the Orlando Twins, a minor league team. In his very first game, he pitched an incredible nine innings. He did not allow any hits to the Jacksonville Suns! His team eventually won that game in extra innings.
Soon after this great start, Darrell was called up. He joined the Minnesota Twins in the Major Leagues. He won his very first Major League game on June 3, 1978. This was against the Detroit Tigers. That year, he also pitched a complete game where the other team scored no runs. This special game is called a shutout. It happened on July 7 against the Oakland Athletics.
In 1979, Darrell played for both the Twins and their minor league team. This team was the Toledo Mud Hens. The year 1980 was his best and only full season in the Major Leagues. He achieved his highest number of wins, with nine victories. He also had his most strikeouts, with 90.
He pitched an amazing 10-inning shutout on May 10, 1980. This was against the New York Yankees in their famous Yankee Stadium. He allowed only five hits and one walk. The Twins won that game 1-0. On June 21, he also earned his only career 'save'. He helped his team win a close 3-2 match against the Indians.
Unfortunately, Darrell faced a shoulder injury in 1981. This limited his playing time significantly. In 1982, he struggled with his pitching performance. The Twins eventually released him on July 26 of that year. After that, he stopped playing professional baseball.
Helping Others After Baseball
After his baseball career, Darrell dedicated himself to helping others. In 1992, he founded the 10-20 Club in Downey, California. This club helps young people facing tough challenges. It offers them support and guidance. Darrell wanted to make a positive difference in his community.
Darrell Jackson passed away on July 5, 2026, at the age of 70. He will be remembered for his baseball career and his work helping young people.
