Kirk Gibson

Kirk Harold Gibson (born May 28, 1957) is a former American two-sport athletic star, best known as a Major League Baseball player noted for his competitiveness and clutch hitting.

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He was born in Pontiac, Michigan, grew up in Waterford, Michigan, and attended Michigan State University where he was an All-American wide receiver in football. He played only one year of college baseball. He was drafted by both the Detroit Tigers baseball team and the St. Louis Cardinals football team, but chose baseball.

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He played as the right fielder for the Detroit Tigers from 1983 to 1985. He helped the Tigers to the 1984 World Series championship. He became a free agent after the 1985 season, but received no significant offers. Neither did any other free agent that year. He re-signed with the Tigers.

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In 1988, an arbitrator, Thomas Roberts, ruled that the owners colluded against the players. He ruled that 25 players, including Kirk Gibson, were to be immediate free agents. They were free to sign with any team. The Los Angeles Dodgers signed him.

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Gibson was known for hitting clutch home runs. In the eighth inning of Game 5 of the 1984 World Series, he faced Goose Gossage, one of the game's premier relievers. In a video called "Sounds of the Game", Detroit manager Sparky Anderson was seen yelling at Gibson, "He don't want to walk you!" and making a bat-swinging motion with his hands. Gibson got the message, and launched Gossage's next pitch into Tiger Stadium's right field upper deck, his second homer of the day, icing the game and the Series for the Tigers.

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In the 1988 National League Championship series against the New York Mets, Gibson hit a solo home run in the top of the 11th of Game 4 that ended up winning the game for the Dodgers. In Game 5, he hit a two-out three-run homer in the fifth; the Dodgers ended up winning the game 7-4.

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In the 1988 World Series championship with the Oakland Athletics, Gibson saw only a single plate appearance, but it was one of the most memorable in baseball history. Gibson had severely injured his leg during the League Championship Series. He was not expected to play at all. In Game 1 (at Dodger Stadium), with the Dodgers trailing by a score of 4-3, Mike Davis on first, and two out in the ninth inning, manager Tommy Lasorda inserted Gibson as a pinch hitter. Surprising everyone, Gibson hobbled up to the plate. He was facing future Hall-of-Famer Dennis Eckersley, the best relief pitcher in baseball at the time. Gibson quickly got behind in the count, 0-2, but received a few outside pitches from Eckersley to work to a 3-2 count. On the seventh pitch of his at bat, a ball, Davis stole second. The A's could have walked him to face Steve Sax, but chose to pitch to him. With an awkward, almost casual swing, Gibson smacked the 3-2 pitch with pure upper-body strength, just over the right-field fence. He hobbled around the bases to win the game 5-4 for the Dodgers. The home run was so memorable that it was included as a finalist in Major League Baseball contest to determine the sport's "Greatest Moment of All Time". Network radio announcer Jack Buck made his famous call, "I don't believe what I just saw!" Network TV announcer Vin Scully, who rarely raises his trademark voice, nearly yelled, "High fly ball into right field, she i-i-i-is... gone!!!" followed by minutes of silence as the pictures and the sounds of the crowd told the story. 67 seconds later, Scully announced, "In a year that has been so improbable, the impossible has happened!"

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In 1991, he was traded to the Kansas City Royals, and then in 1992 to the Pittsburgh Pirates. He then spent the final three years of his career (1993 - 1995) with the Detroit Tigers.

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He was named the National League MVP in 1988. He is the only MVP winner never to appear on an All-Star roster. He was named to the team twice, in 1985 and 1988, but declined the invitation both times.

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He retired in August, 1995. After a stint as a broadcaster, he is now the hitting coach for the Detroit Tigers.

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He married JoAnn Sklarski on December 22, 1985 in a double ceremony where Tiger pitcher Dave Rozema married JoAnn's sister Sandy. They were married at Grosse Pointe Memorial Church in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan.

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He set a flying record in 1987. He flew a Cessna 206 to the height of 25,200 feet in Lakeland, Florida. The record was certified by the National Aeronautic Association.

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May 28: May 28 is the 148th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (149th in leap years). There are 217 days remaining....

1957: 1957 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar....

American: :This page disambiguates the many uses of American. For an article about those various uses, please see Use of the word American....

Kirk Gibson related Images and Photos (experimental)

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