33 Facts About Kirk Gibson

1.

Kirk Harold Gibson was born on May 28,1957 and is an American former professional baseball player and manager.

FactSnippet No. 2,321,082
2.

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

FactSnippet No. 2,321,083
3.

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

FactSnippet No. 2,321,084
4.

Kirk Gibson was named to the All-Star team twice, in 1985 and 1988, but declined the invitation both times.

FactSnippet No. 2,321,085
5.

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

FactSnippet No. 2,321,086
6.

Kirk 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.

FactSnippet No. 2,321,087
7.

Kirk Gibson was born in Pontiac, Michigan on May 28,1957, grew up in Waterford, Michigan, and attended Michigan State University where he was an All-American wide receiver in football.

FactSnippet No. 2,321,088
8.

Kirk Gibson played only one year of college baseball, but managed to hit.

FactSnippet No. 2,321,089
9.

Kirk Gibson was drafted by both his hometown Detroit Tigers baseball team and the St Louis Cardinals football team.

FactSnippet No. 2,321,090
10.

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

FactSnippet No. 2,321,091
11.

Kirk Gibson 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.

FactSnippet No. 2,321,092
12.

Kirk Gibson 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.

FactSnippet No. 2,321,093
13.

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

FactSnippet No. 2,321,094
14.

Kirk Gibson finished in the top 10 in home runs 3 times in his career and ranked in the top 10 in stolen bases 4 times.

FactSnippet No. 2,321,095
15.

Indeed, Gossage had struck out Gibson in his very first Major League at-bat in 1979 on 3 pitches, and Kirk had only managed one bunt-single against Gossage in 10 previous plate appearances.

FactSnippet No. 2,321,096
16.

Kirk Gibson granted several players, including Gibson, immediate free agency.

FactSnippet No. 2,321,097
17.

Kirk Gibson joined the Dodgers in 1988, and immediately brought a winning attitude after a publicized blow-up when pitcher Jesse Orosco put shoe black in his cap during a spring training prank.

FactSnippet No. 2,321,098
18.

Kirk Gibson openly criticized the team, which had finished fourth in the NL West the previous season, for its unprofessionalism.

FactSnippet No. 2,321,099
19.

Kirk Gibson became the team's de facto leader, and won a controversial NL MVP award after batting.

FactSnippet No. 2,321,100
20.

Kirk Gibson is perhaps best known for his one and only plate appearance in the 1988 World Series against the Oakland Athletics.

FactSnippet No. 2,321,101
21.

Kirk Gibson hobbled around the bases and pumped his right fist as his jubilant teammates stormed the field.

FactSnippet No. 2,321,102
22.

In 1991, Kirk Gibson signed as a free agent with the Kansas City Royals, and then in 1992 he was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Neal Heaton.

FactSnippet No. 2,321,103
23.

Kirk Gibson retired from baseball temporarily, after being released by the Pirates on May 5,1992.

FactSnippet No. 2,321,104
24.

Kirk Gibson spent the final three years of his career back with the Tigers, including a renaissance season in 1994 when he hit 23 home runs in 98 games before the strike ended the season.

FactSnippet No. 2,321,105
25.

Kirk Gibson was a Detroit Tigers television analyst on FSN Detroit for five seasons, from 1998 to 2002.

FactSnippet No. 2,321,106
26.

On January 28,2019, Kirk Gibson was named a special assistant for the Detroit Tigers.

FactSnippet No. 2,321,107
27.

Kirk Gibson served in that position until the midway point of the 2005 season when he was moved from bench coach to hitting coach, swapping positions with Bruce Fields.

FactSnippet No. 2,321,108
28.

Shortly after the season, Kirk Gibson was named permanent manager and given a two-year contract.

FactSnippet No. 2,321,109
29.

Kirk Gibson was named NL Manager of the Year on November 16,2011.

FactSnippet No. 2,321,110
30.

Kirk Gibson married JoAnn Sklarski on December 22,1985, in a double ceremony where Tiger pitcher Dave Rozema married JoAnn's sister Sandy.

FactSnippet No. 2,321,111
31.

Kirk Gibson's son Kevin is a defenseman for the Fort Wayne Komets in the ECHL.

FactSnippet No. 2,321,112
32.

Kirk Gibson flew a Cessna 206 to a height of 25,200 feet in Lakeland, Florida.

FactSnippet No. 2,321,113
33.

Kirk Gibson was nominated for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame multiple times before being elected in 2017.

FactSnippet No. 2,321,114