Former Arizona State and Minnesota Twins pitcher Darrell Jackson has died at the age of 70.
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A cause of death has not been announced.
Jackson was a standout left-hander for the Sun Devils from 1974-77, helping Arizona State make three appearances in the College World Series during his collegiate career.
His signature performance came in the 1977 College World Series, when he threw a three-hit shutout in the national semifinals to help propel the Sun Devils to the national championship.
Following his college career, Jackson was selected by the Minnesota Twins in the ninth round of the 1977 MLB Draft.
He reached the major leagues less than a year later, making his MLB debut on June 3, 1978. Jackson earned the victory in his first big league start, defeating the Detroit Tigers.
Jackson spent five seasons with the Twins before a career-ending arm injury forced him to retire at the age of 27.
Rest in Peace, Mr. Darrell Jackson.
July 5, 2026 at 5 pm.
Thank you for being here. Say hi to Lenny for me.
🕊⚾️❤️
LHP Darrell Jackson.
Turned 70 on April 3rd.
Locke High school.
Arizona St University, 3 CWS appearances.
Minnesota @Twins, 1978-1982.
5 years' @MLB service. pic.twitter.com/mh9TG5ziCX— Dana (@dana_usc94) July 6, 2026
After baseball, Jackson became an advocate for at-risk youth, speaking openly about his struggles with major depression and substance abuse following the abrupt end of his playing career.
In 1988, he founded the 10-20 Club, an organization dedicated to mentoring and supporting young people in Downey, California. Through the program, he worked with thousands of teenagers over the years, using his own experiences to encourage others facing difficult circumstances.
While Jackson's professional career was cut short, he remained closely connected to the game and devoted much of his life to helping others.
He is remembered both for his contributions to Arizona State's championship tradition and for the lasting impact he made in his community after baseball.
