Kirk Gibson

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Gibson is perhaps best known for his one and only plate appearance in the 1988 World Series against the Oakland Athletics. Having injured both legs during the NLCS, Gibson was not expected to play at all. In Game 1, however, with the Dodgers trailing by a score of 4–3, Mike Davis on first base, and two out in the ninth inning, manager Tommy Lasorda unexpectedly inserted his hobbled league MVP as a pinch hitter. Gibson, limping back and forth between a pulled left hamstring and a swollen right knee, made his way to the plate to face Oakland's future Hall of Fame closer Dennis Eckersley. Gibson quickly got behind in the count 0–2, but laid off of a pair of outside pitches that were called balls. He then kept the count at 2–2 by fouling off a pitch. On the seventh pitch of his at-bat, a ball, Davis stole second. With an awkward, almost casual swing, Gibson used pure upper-body strength—and according to Gibson, advanced scouting-based knowledge of what the pitcher would likely throw with that count—to smack a 3–2 backdoor slider over the right-field fence. He hobbled around the bases and pumped his right fist as his jubilant teammates stormed the field. The Dodgers won the game, 5–4, and won the World Series, four games to one.

Later career

In 1991, 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. He retired from baseball temporarily, after being released by the Pirates on May 5, 1992. A month later, Gibson got an offer to return to Detroit—not with the Tigers, but to play football again, with the Arena Football League's Detroit Drive; he declined the offer. [15] The following spring, Sparky Anderson convinced him to return to baseball. He spent the final three years of his career (1993–1995) 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.

Career statistics

In 1,635 games over 17 seasons, Gibson posted a .268 batting average (1,553 for 5,798) with 985 runs, 260 doubles, 54 triples, 255 home runs, 870 RBI, 284 stolen bases, 718 bases on balls, a .352 on-base percentage and a .463 slugging percentage. Defensively, he recorded a .976 fielding percentage while playing at all three outfield positions. In 21 postseason games, he batted .282 (22 for 78) with 13 runs, two doubles, seven home runs, 21 RBI, nine stolen bases and 12 walks.

Post-playing career

Broadcasting

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

On February 10, 2015, it was announced that Gibson would return as a color commentator for the Detroit Tigers on Fox Sports Detroit, along with former teammate Jack Morris. [16]

On January 28, 2019, Gibson was named a special assistant for the Detroit Tigers. [17]

Coaching

In 2003, he was named the Tigers' bench coach by new Tigers manager and former Tigers teammate Alan Trammell. He 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. As of the start of the 2007 Major League Baseball season, Gibson became the new Arizona Diamondbacks bench coach.

Gibson had worn #23 as a player in both football at Michigan State and baseball throughout his career. However, while coaching for the Tigers, he wore #22 after #23 was retired for Willie Horton. Gibson wore #23 as manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Managerial career

Arizona Diamondbacks

Gibson, Chase Field, 2011 Gibsonwin3.jpg
Gibson, Chase Field, 2011

On July 1, 2010, the Arizona Diamondbacks fired A. J. Hinch as manager and promoted Gibson from his position as bench coach to interim manager. [18] Shortly after the season, Gibson was named permanent manager and given a two-year contract. [19] In his first full year as manager, Gibson led the Diamondbacks to their first N.L. West title since 2007, when most sports writers expected them to be in last place for the third time in a row. He was named NL Manager of the Year on November 16, 2011. On September 26, 2014, the Arizona Diamondbacks fired Gibson, ending his four-year tenure with the team. [20] He finished his Diamondbacks career with a 353–375 regular season and 2–3 post–season record. [21]

Managerial record

As of December 26, 2014
Kirk Gibson
Kirk Gibson by Gage Skidmore.jpg
Gibson in 2017
Outfielder / Manager
Born: (1957-05-28) May 28, 1957 (age 67)
Pontiac, Michigan, U.S.
Batted: Left
Threw: Left
MLB debut
September 8, 1979, for the Detroit Tigers
Last MLB appearance
August 10, 1995, for the Detroit Tigers
TeamFromToRegular season recordPost–season record
WLWin %WLWin %
Arizona Diamondbacks 20102014353375.48523.400
Total353375.48523.400
Reference: [21]

Personal life

Cam Gibson with Michigan State in 2014 Cam Gibson (13945788327) (cropped).jpg
Cam Gibson with Michigan State in 2014

Gibson 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. The Gibsons reside in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, and have four children: Colleen, Cam, Kirk, and Kevin. [22] Gibson's son Cam was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 5th round, 160th overall, in the 2015 Major League Baseball draft. [23] His son Kevin is a defenseman for the Fort Wayne Komets in the ECHL.

Gibson set an aviation record in 1987. [24] He flew a Cessna 206 to a height of 25,200 feet in Lakeland, Florida. [25] The record was certified by the National Aeronautic Association. [26]

He was nominated for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame multiple times before being elected in 2017. [7] [27] [28]

Gibson is an avid deer hunter. He and former teammate David Wells, along with former MLB pitcher Jake Peavy, own a 1,300-acre hunting ranch near Millersburg, Michigan, which they named the "Buck Falls Ranch". [29]

On April 28, 2015, it was announced that Gibson had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. [30] [31]

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "Dodgers Scout Helped Gibson Hit Historic Limp-Off Homer". The Huffington Post. October 16, 2013. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
  2. ↑ Pouliot, Matthew (July 13, 2011). "Kirk Gibson twice turned down the All-Star Game". NBC Sports . Retrieved March 15, 2021.
  3. ↑ McManaman, Bob. "Arizona Diamondbacks name Kirk Gibson manager." Article in the 'Arizona Republic' on October 4, 2010.
  4. ↑ Major League Baseball [@MLB] (September 26, 2014). "The @Dbacks relieve manager Kirk Gibson and bench coach Alan Trammell of their duties" (Tweet). Retrieved May 4, 2017– via Twitter.
  5. ↑ Beck, Jason (January 15, 2019). "Gibson, Morris join Tigers broadcasting team". mlb.com. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
  6. ↑ "Kirk Gibson #23". Arizona Diamondbacks. Archived from the original on April 28, 2014. Retrieved March 11, 2014.
  7. 1 2 Kyle Austin (January 9, 2017). "Kirk Gibson voted into College Football Hall of Fame". Mlive.com.
  8. ↑ Wood Bats Drive Him Bats Sports Illustrated Vault
  9. 1 2 "This Day in Baseball - Recapping events that took place in the baseball world on this day". June 14, 2023.
  10. ↑ "MLB Draft - First Overall Picks - Major League Baseball - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
  11. ↑ Career Leaders & Records for Power-Speed # Baseball-Reference.com
  12. ↑ September 8, 1979 New York Yankees at Detroit Tigers Box Score and Play by Play Baseball-Reference.com
  13. ↑ Baseball's Best October Moments at MLB.com
  14. ↑ Sporting News Baseball Guide, 1989, p. 18
  15. ↑ "He won't Drive". Baltimore Sun. June 28, 1992. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016.
  16. ↑ Nowak, Joey (February 10, 2015). "Gibson, Morris aboard as Tigers analysts". Detroit Tigers. MLB. Archived from the original on February 10, 2015. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
  17. ↑ Beck, Jason (January 28, 2019). "Gibson lands role as special assistant to GM". MLB.com. Retrieved January 28, 2019.
  18. ↑ "Diamondbacks make it official: GM Josh Byrnes and manager A.J. Hinch out". USATODAY.COM. Retrieved May 4, 2017.
  19. ↑ Diamondbacks remove interim tag from Kirk Gibson, USA Today, October 4, 2010. Retrieved October 7, 2010.
  20. ↑ ESPN (September 26, 2014). "Diamondbacks fire Kirk Gibson" . Retrieved September 26, 2014.
  21. 1 2 "Kirk Gibson". Baseball Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 26, 2014.
  22. ↑ "Kirk Gibson Biography at diamondbacks.com". Archived from the original on April 28, 2014. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
  23. ↑ Solari, Chris (June 9, 2015). "Tigers draft MSU's Cam Gibson, Kirk's son, in 5th round". Lansing State Journal . Retrieved June 9, 2015.
  24. ↑ "Tigers' Gibson Reaches New Heights". Los Angeles Times. United Press International. March 20, 1987. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  25. ↑ "Kirk Gibson sets flight record in Cessna plane". Gainesville Sun. March 20, 1987. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  26. ↑ Buck, Brad (March 20, 1987). "Tiger's Gibson hits flight record". Lakeland Ledger. Retrieved September 28, 2014– via Google News.
  27. ↑ Griffith, Mike (March 6, 2014). "Four Spartans among 75 on ballot for Class of 2014 College Football Hall of Fame induction". Michigan Live. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  28. ↑ Weintraub, Robert (May 11, 2013). "Honoring Greats of College Football Takes Much Time and Several Steps". New York Times. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  29. ↑ Henning, Lynn. "Ex-Tiger Kirk Gibson enjoys offseason on the prowl at his Michigan ranch". The Detroit News. Retrieved December 15, 2012.
  30. ↑ Jahnke, James (April 28, 2015). "Kirk Gibson diagnosed with Parkinson's disease". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved April 28, 2015.
  31. ↑ Beck, Jason (April 28, 2015). "Gibson reveals diagnosis of Parkinson's disease". Detroit Tigers. MLB. Archived from the original on May 1, 2015. Retrieved April 28, 2015.
Sporting positions
Preceded by Detroit Tigers hitting coach
2005		Succeeded by
Preceded by Arizona Diamondbacks bench coach
2007–2010		Succeeded by
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