Terrell Jackson attended Smyth Elementary School and Crane High School in Chicago. He started his illustrious softball career in 1947 at Stanford Park at 14th and Union Avenue. Jackson made an impression as a tough ball player at the young age of twelve because every year he was selected to the Stanford Park All-Star Team that played against teams of different age levels from other parks in Chicago. Jackson’s years at Stanford Park prepared him to play with more competitive teams. First, Jackson played for a few years with the Dexters. After graduating from Crane High School in 1952, he played with the Westside Dodgers, a team that he had admired throughout his childhood. While a member of the Dodgers, Terrell had the opportunity to play with and learn from such great athletes as James “Big Zeke” Ireland, Bob Joyce, Leon Edwards, James “Killer” Cain, Sully Palmer, Perry Minniefield, Linwood “Woody” McCrary and William Clark. The Dodgers played all the top teams at Fosco Park and Franklin Park. Jackson played in all the major tournaments and big money games. One of these tournaments was sponsored by Daddie 0’Daylie’s Fund League. Jackson retired from league softball in 1972 and remembers the pleasure of playing with some of the greatest softball players of all time.
