Kirk Harold Gibson (born May 28, 1957) is an American former professional baseball outfielder and manager. Gibson played most of his career in Major League Baseball (MLB) with the Detroit Tigers. He also played for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Kansas City Royals, and Pittsburgh Pirates. He batted and threw left-handed. He is currently a special assistant for the Tigers.
While with the Dodgers, Gibson was named the National League MVP in 1988. During his career, he hit two dramatic home runs in the World Series, each one against a pitcher who was later inducted into the Hall of Fame. With the Tigers in 1984, he helped the team win the title in Game 5 with a three-run home run against Goose Gossage, who had refused to walk him with a base open. With the Dodgers in 1988, Gibson faced closer Dennis Eckersley in the ninth inning of the first game and hit a pinch-hit walk-off home run—often described as one of the most exciting moments in World Series history. He was named to the All-Star team twice as a reserve, in 1985 and 1988, but chose not to attend either time.
After retiring as a player, Gibson worked as a television analyst in Detroit for five seasons. He then became a coach for the Tigers in 2003. He served as the Diamondbacks' bench coach in 2007 and was promoted to interim manager in 2010 after the team’s manager, A. J. Hinch, was dismissed mid-season. On October 4, 2010, the Diamondbacks removed the "interim" label, naming Gibson their manager for the 2011 season. He managed the Diamondbacks until September 26, 2014. In 2015, Gibson returned to broadcasting as a part-time commentator for Tigers TV. In 2019, he became a regular television analyst for the Tigers.
Biography
Gibson was born on May 28, 1957, in Pontiac, Michigan, and grew up in Waterford, a nearby town. He graduated from Waterford Kettering High School in 1975 and attended Michigan State University. There, he played football as a wide receiver for the Michigan State Spartans and was named an All-American. Gibson helped the Spartans tie for the Big Ten Conference title, set school and conference receiving records, and earned spots on several All-America teams. He also played in the Hula Bowl and Senior Bowl. In 2017, Gibson was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame for his achievements.
At the suggestion of his football coach, Darryl Rogers, Gibson also played baseball for the Michigan State Spartans. He played one year of college baseball, batting .390 with 16 home runs and 52 runs batted in (RBIs) over 48 games.
The Detroit Tigers selected Gibson in the first round of the 1978 Major League Baseball draft, and the St. Louis Cardinals selected him in the seventh round of the 1979 NFL draft. Gibson chose to sign with the Tigers, his hometown team.
Gibson made his major league debut in 1979 and played as the regular right fielder for the Tigers from 1983 to 1987. He helped the Tigers win the 1984 World Series. After the 1985 season, Gibson became a free agent but received no significant offers because of collusion among MLB team owners. He re-signed with the Tigers and in 1987 helped them win the American League East by two games over the Blue Jays. However, the Tigers lost the 1987 American League Championship Series to the eventual World Champion Twins.
Early in his career, manager Sparky Anderson said Gibson was the next Mickey Mantle. Anderson later apologized, saying he may have put too much pressure on Gibson. Gibson was known as a versatile player who could hit home runs and steal bases. He finished in the top 10 in home runs three times and in the top 10 in stolen bases four times. In 1985, Gibson fell one home run short of becoming the first Tiger in the 30–30 club (hitting 30 home runs and stealing 30 bases in a season).
Gibson was known for hitting clutch home runs. In Game 5 of the 1984 World Series, with the Tigers leading 5–4 and runners on second and third with one out, Gibson faced Goose Gossage, a top reliever for the Padres. Gossage had previously struck out Gibson in his first major league at-bat and had only allowed Gibson one bunt-single in 10 previous plate appearances. Detroit manager Sparky Anderson signaled to Gibson to "swing away" from the dugout. Gibson hit a three-run home run, securing the Tigers' victory and the World Series title.
During his 2008 Hall of Fame induction speech, Gossage joked, "I should have walked Gibson." In an ESPN interview, Padres manager Dick Williams admitted he allowed Gossage to pitch to Gibson, even though it risked a home run. Williams noted that Gibson's home run damaged several seats in consecutive rows.
In 1988, an arbitrator ruled that MLB team owners had colluded to limit free agency. Gibson, along with other players, was granted immediate free agency. He signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Gibson joined the Dodgers in 1988 and quickly became a team leader after criticizing the team for unprofessional behavior during a spring training incident. He won a controversial National League Most Valuable Player (MVP) award after batting .290 with 25 home runs, 76 RBIs, 106 runs, and 31 stolen bases. Though he did not lead the league in any major category, his leadership helped the team succeed.
In the 1988 National League Championship Series, Gibson made a difficult catch in left field during a rain-soaked game at Shea Stadium. He saved a potential double but the Dodgers lost the game 8–4. In Game 4, Gibson hit a solo home run in the 12th inning to win the game. In Game 5, he hit a two-out three-run home run, helping the Dodgers win 7–4. His performance in the NLCS set the stage for his most famous moment in the World Series.
Gibson is best known for his one plate appearance in the 1988 World Series against the Oakland Athletics. After injuring both legs during the NLCS, Gibson was not expected to play. In Game 1, manager Tommy Lasorda inserted Gibson as a pinch hitter with the Dodgers trailing 4–3 in the ninth inning. Gibson, limping from injuries, faced Oakland’s Dennis Eckersley. He fouled off a pitch, then hit a 3–2 slider over the right-field fence for a three-run home run. The Dodgers won the game 5–4 and the World Series four games to one.
In 1991, Gibson signed with the Kansas City Royals and was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1992. He retired temporarily after being released by the Pirates in May 1992. A month later, he was offered a chance to return to Detroit to play football with the Arena Football League’s Detroit Drive but declined. Sparky Anderson convinced him to return to baseball. Gibson played his final three seasons with the Tigers from 1993 to 1995, including a strong 1994 season with 23 home runs in 98 games before the strike ended the season.
Over 1,635 games in 17 seasons, Gibson batted .268 with 1,553 hits in 5,798 at-bats, 985 runs, 260 doubles, 54 triples, 255 home runs, 870 RBIs, 284 stolen bases, 718 bases on balls, a .352 on-base percentage, and a .463 slugging percentage. Defensively, he recorded a .976 fielding percentage.
Personal life
Gibson married JoAnn Sklarski on December 22, 1985, in a ceremony where two couples got married. Tiger pitcher Dave Rozema married JoAnn's sister, Sandy. The ceremony took place at Grosse Pointe Memorial Church in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan. Gibson and his wife live in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, and have four children: Colleen, Cam, Kirk, and Kevin. Gibson's son, Cam, was chosen by the Detroit Tigers in the 5th round, 160th overall, in the 2015 Major League Baseball draft. His son, Kevin, plays as a defenseman for the Fort Wayne Komets in the ECHL.
In 1987, Gibson set an aviation record. He flew a Cessna 206 to a height of 25,200 feet in Lakeland, Florida. The record was officially recognized by the National Aeronautic Association.
Gibson was nominated many times for the College Football Hall of Fame before being elected in 2017.
Gibson enjoys hunting deer. He owns a 1,300-acre hunting ranch near Millersburg, Michigan, with former teammate David Wells and former MLB pitcher Jake Peavy. They named the ranch "Buck Falls Ranch."
On April 28, 2015, it was announced that Gibson had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.