Jackson Is Quietly Earning Respect : Baseball: After nearly being traded in the offseason, he has shown that his 1991 season was not a fluke.

While the San Diego Padres focus this season has centered on Gary Sheffield and Fred McGriff, Darrin Jackson is quietly having one of the finest seasons of any center fielder in the National League.

Jackson, a former Culver City High player, has 14 home runs and a career-high 59 runs batted in.

“It’s funny, I’m having the best year of my career, but by comparison to Gary and Freddy, I feel like I’m having a lousy year,” he said.

“I guess I should be happy with the numbers I put up, though, because with those two guys batting ahead of me, they don’t leave too much on the bases.”

Indeed, Sheffield and McGriff have combined for 56 home runs and 170 RBIs this season. There’s not a more prolific 3-4 combination in the major leagues.

And if you ask opposing managers, Jackson is responsible for helping force pitchers to face Sheffield and McGriff.

“People take that guy for granted, but he’s a hell of a player,” Cincinnati Red Manager Lou Piniella said. “You can’t just tell your pitcher, ‘Go walk Sheffield and McGriff and take your chances with Jackson.’

“Believe me, that guy can hurt you just as much.”

Jackson’s numbers might pale in comparison to those of Sheffield and McGriff, but there are some revealing facts: Nine of his 14 homers have either won a game, tied the score or given the Padres a lead.

Not bad for a guy whom the Padres spent the winter and spring trying to trade. Jackson was offered in a package for Ellis Burks of the Boston Red Sox, Sammy Sosa of the Chicago White Sox and even Gary Thurman of the Kansas City Royals.

Although Jackson batted .262 with a career-high 21 homers and 49 RBIs in 1991--that while not becoming an everyday starter until Aug. 11--the Padres believed it was a fluke. They wanted to deal him while his trade value was high.

It might be the best move the Padres never made.

“Of all of our position players, he’s the most the most pleasant surprise for us,” Padre General Manager Joe McIlvaine said. “Baseball has a way of categorizing players, and many people thought--including us--that he was just a good extra outfielder.

“He showed us that label is not valid. He’s become a guy who just doesn’t hit homers, but is a good situational hitter.

“Right now, you’ve got to put him right up there in the class of (Pittsburgh’s Andy) Van Slyke, (the Dodgers’ Brett) Butler, and (Philadelphia’s Lenny) Dykstra.”

Jackson is considered by many in the Padre clubhouse as the key to their offense during the final 35 games. He’s responsible for making sure opponents keep pitching to McGriff. If they stop, Jackson must deliver.

“I still don’t look at myself as a No. 5 hitter, but if you look around our team, nobody else is either,” Jackson said. “Really, it’s been a whole lot of fun just trying to stay close to those guys (Sheffield and McGriff). It pushes you.

“They can make you look bad, and you don’t want to be the guy sticking out.”

Jackson ultimately can be responsible for helping Sheffield and McGriff be part of history this season. The Padres have the opportunity to have three players hit 20 or more homers in a season for the first time since 1970--with Nate Colbert, Cito Gaston and Ollie Brown. It also was the last year the Padres led the league in homers.

“It’s nice to finally be recognized for what I can do, but I can honestly say I don’t expect anything in this game,” Jackson, 28, said. “I’ve always had to go year to year to see where I stand, and I can’t see that changing.

“I think the only difference is that I always thought I could wind up in Miami or Colorado in the expansion draft. I thought that’s what it would take for someone to give me a chance.

“I’ve got the chance, and I think people realize now I’m not bad.

“You know something, I even feel I belong.”