Kirk Gibson

Kirk Harold Gibson (born May 28, 1957) is an American former professional baseball outfielder and manager.

He is currently a color commentator for the Detroit Tigers on Bally Sports Detroit and a special assistant for the Tigers.

Gibson spent most of his career with the Detroit Tigers, but also played for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Kansas City Royals, and Pittsburgh Pirates.

He batted and threw left-handed.

While with the Dodgers, Gibson was named the National League MVP in.

During his career, he hit two dramatic home runs in the World Series, each one coming against an eventual Hall of Fame relief pitcher.

Gibson was born in Pontiac, Michigan, on May 28, 1957, and grew up in nearby Waterford.

Gibson graduated from Waterford Kettering High School in 1975, and went on to attend Michigan State University, where he was an All-American wide receiver in football.

Gibson's college football career was distinguished by leading the Spartans to a tie for the Big Ten title, setting school and conference receiving records, starring in the Hula Bowl and Senior Bowl, and making several All-America teams.

Indeed, Gossage had struck out Gibson in his very first Major League at-bat in 1979 on three pitches, and Kirk had only managed one bunt-single against Gossage in 10 previous plate appearances.

When asked about Gibson, Gossage later said he had told teammate Tim Lollar in the second inning, "I own him."

If the Padres could hold the Tigers and score a couple runs in the ninth, they would force the Series back to San Diego and maybe turn the tide.

In the Sounds of the Game video, Detroit manager Sparky Anderson was seen yelling at Gibson from the dugout, "He don't want to walk you!", showing four fingers and then making a bat-swinging motion, the universal baseball gesture for "swing away."

Nevertheless, Gibson was considered a versatile power/speed player in the 1980s who was able to hit home runs as well as steal bases.

He finished in the top 10 in home runs 3 times in his career and ranked in the top 10 in stolen bases four times.

Gibson played as the regular right fielder for the Detroit Tigers from 1983 to 1987.

With the Tigers in 1984, he clinched the title in Game 5 with a three-run homer off Goose Gossage, who had refused to walk him with a base open.

He helped the Tigers win the 1984 World Series.

In the eighth inning of Game 5 of the 1984 World Series between the Tigers and Padres, he faced Goose Gossage, one of the game's premier relievers, with Detroit up 5–4 and runners on second and third with one out.

An intentional (or at least semi-intentional) walk seemed to be in order, especially because Gibson had already homered earlier in the game.

However, Gossage told San Diego manager Dick Williams he thought he could strike him out.

He was named to the All-Star team twice as a reserve, in 1985 and 1988, but declined the invitation both times.

He became a free agent after the 1985 season but received no significant offers because of what was later determined to be collusion among the owners of MLB teams.

He fell one home run short of becoming the first Tiger in the 30–30 club in 1985.

Gibson was known for hitting clutch home runs.

He re-signed with the Tigers and in 1987, helped them to win the American League East by two games over the Blue Jays in an enthralling divisional race.

However, Detroit lost the 1987 American League Championship Series to the eventual World Champion Twins.

Early in his career, Gibson was proclaimed by manager Sparky Anderson to be the next Mickey Mantle.

Anderson later apologized and said that probably put too much pressure on a young and inexperienced Gibson.

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.

Following his retirement as a player, he spent five seasons as a television analyst in Detroit and then became a coach for the Tigers in 2003.

He became the Diamondbacks' bench coach in 2007 and was promoted to interim manager in 2010 following the mid-season dismissal of A. J. Hinch.

On October 4, 2010, the Diamondbacks removed the "interim" label, naming Gibson their manager for the 2011 season.

He served as the Diamondbacks' manager until September 26, 2014.

Gibson returned to the broadcast booth in 2015 as a part-time commentator for Tigers TV broadcasts, and was named a regular television analyst for the Tigers in 2019.

For his accomplishments on the football field, Gibson was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in January 2017.

It was at the suggestion of Spartan football coach Darryl Rogers that Gibson played collegiate baseball.

Gibson played only one year of college baseball, but managed to hit .390 with 16 homers and 52 RBIs in 48 games.

He was drafted by both his hometown Detroit Tigers baseball team (first round) and the St. Louis Cardinals football team (seventh round).

He chose baseball.