PADRES : Jackson Continues to Face Big Challenges

Darrin Jackson has overcome cancer. He has fought through seven years of the minor leagues. Now, he’s attempting to overcome the biggest obstacle of all in baseball, one that has haunted him throughout his career.

“I’m trying to shake the label that I’m only a reserve outfielder,” Jackson said, “and believe me, once you’ve got a label in this game, it’s like you’re stuck with it your whole life.”

It was in 1987 when Jackson’s life took its first detour. He was on his way to the big leagues, hitting .274 with 23 homers and 81 RBIs in triple-A Iowa. The Chicago Cubs had no choice but to call him up, and when they did, Jackson went four for five in seven games, including three pinch-hits.

“I thought I was on my way,” he said.

Instead, he found himself in a hospital bed in September, 1987, with testicular cancer. One month later, he was undergoing surgery to remove lymph nodes in his groin and abdomen.

“You just look up into the sky,” Jackson said, “and say, ‘Why me? Why now of all times. Give me a break, will you?’ ”

Jackson bounced back from the operations, and six-month checkups reveal that he’s cancer-free.

It’s his career that has yet to recover.

Although he stayed with the Cubs the entire 1988 season, he started in only 40 games, and came off the bench in 60 others. It was the last time he stayed in the big leagues for an entire season. He spent half of the 1989 season in the minors before being traded to the Padres Aug. 31. And the Padres made him feel at home last season by keeping him in triple-A Las Vegas for two months.

Now he is vying with Shawn Abner and Thomas Howard to become the starting center fielder, believing he is the best man for the job.

“I just want an equal shot, that’s all,” Jackson said. “If I get an opportunity, and don’t win the job, I can live with that. I just want the chance to prove myself, and if I don’t get it, I think it’s unfair.”

Jackson, who was hitless in three at-bats Sunday in the Padres’ 4-0 victory over the Angels, actually is being provided his best opportunity right now. Abner and left fielder Jerald Clark are sidelined with hamstring pulls, leaving Jackson with plenty of playing time.

“I want to start so bad,” Jackson said, “I actually lay awake at night thinking about it. For the last three years, all I hear is people saying, ‘He does a good job coming off the bench.’ It’s like they can’t find anyone else to do a good job in that role. I wonder what would happen if I failed in that role?

“I don’t know, it seems like my career’s going backwards. Ever since my rookie year (when he batted .266 with six homers and 20 RBIs), everything’s gotten worse.

“I keep saying, ‘This is a big year. This is it.’ But I’ve been saying that every year, and I’m tired of saying it.

“Hopefully, this will be the last time I’ll ever have to say it.”

Teammate Joey Cora is bowing to him. Larry Andersen claims to be his new best friend.

Padre right fielder Tony Gwynn, for the third consecutive day, was perfect at the plate. He obtained two more singles into right field Sunday, and now is seven for seven this spring--six singles, one homer and six RBIs.

“I’m as shocked as anyone else,” said Gwynn, a four-time National League batting champion. “Never, never in my life have I done this. This is unbelievable.

“The real test will be (today). I’m facing Mark Langston. I’m about zero for eight years against that guy. If I get a hit off him, then I know I’m really going good.”

Just when was the last time Gwynn obtained a hit off Langston?

“It was in Bellingham, Wash., in 1981,” Gwynn said. “Wait a minute. That’s 10 years ago! Can you believe it? And that’s a guy I’ve probably faced 25 times over the years in spring training.”

Really, Gwynn said, the only thing that could surpass this is if it were the regular season.

“But the way I figure it,” Gwynn said, “this already makes my swing. I could go zero for 63 the rest of the way, and still have a respectable spring.”

Said Padre Manager Greg Riddoch: “Believe me, this isn’t going to last forever. I just know it’s going to end.

“I just don’t know what month.”

Padre center fielder Shawn Abner, who knows that his strained right hamstring is hurting his chances for the starting center field job, says he’s willing to miss time now rather than return too early and be out for six weeks.

“I can’t believe my luck,” he moaned. “I come down here early, so what happens? I get sick for two days and now I pull my hamstring. Life stinks.

“But I’d rather be out now than miss the first six weeks of the season, get sent down to (Las) Vegas for rehabilitation, and watch someone get hot and take my spot.”

Calvin Schiraldi, vying for the No. 5 spot in the rotation, pitched three hitless innings. “I actually didn’t feel very good out there,” he said, “but right now, all I care about is outs. I know I’ve got to have a good spring to make this team. If I get knocked around, I’ll be out of here.” . . . The Padres departed Yuma after the game, and will begin a 11-game stretch in Phoenix. They’ll play the Angels for the fourth consecutive day at 12:05 p.m. (PST) today at Packard Stadium on the Arizona State campus . . . Angel outfielder Dave Winfield, former Padre President Buzzie Bavasi and San Diego Union sportwriter Phil Collier were inducted into the Yuma Sports Hall of Fame.”