Longtime big leaguer and recent Diamondbacks skipper Kirk Gibson has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, per a FOX Sports Detroit announcement.
Gibson, 57, was relieved of his duties with Arizona late last year as part of the team’s broad change in leadership. He joined the Tigers broadcast booth for this year, but had missed much of the early season.
Gibson’s relationship with Detroit stretches back to his introduction to professional baseball, which came with the Tigers organization. Over twelve seasons with the Tigers, covering the beginning and end of his career, Gibson slashed a robust .273/.354/.480.
Oddly, Gibson never made an All-Star team in spite of his excellent production, though he was tabbed the National League’s Most Valuable Player in 1988 with the Dodgers — his finest overall season. Of course, that was also the year that he hit his legendary pinch-hit World Series home run on two bad legs.
After his retirement as a player, Gibson ultimately returned to the uniform as a coach and then manager. After taking over the helm for the D’backs in the middle of 2010, he led the club to a surprising 94-win campaign in the following season. After two straight .500 efforts and a rough 2014, Gibson lost his job, though he was commended for doing “an admirable job under difficult circumstances” by chief baseball officer Tony La Russa.
As both a player and manager, Gibson has always been renowned for his intensity. He cited that trait in a statement: “With the support of my family and friends, I will meet this challenge with the same determination and unwavering intensity that I have displayed in all of my endeavors in life. I look forward to being back at the ballpark as soon as possible.”
MLBTR joins all those around the game in extending its best wishes to Kirk and his family, friends, and colleagues.
Thoughts and prayers are with you Kirk. We miss you in Phoenix.
Oh man, this stinks. As a Dodgers fan, I obviously get goosebumps whenever his name is mentioned.
I get those goosebumps too. Such a great moment!
I do Kirk’s world series “arm pump” motion probably about 5 times a day without knowing it.
As a Dodger fan, I just remember that Gibson almost singularly willed that team into the World Series. And if you didn’t like his leadership, he’d chop your head off (i.e. Jesse Orosco)….
Still get chills every time I see the home run he hit off Eck in 1988. Still one of the greatest moments in baseball history. Best to Gibson and his family. Truly a great baseball player.
Yes, an iconic moment in baseball. I googled it and watched it again. Hope he gets great care by the Drs.
Wow. Very sorry to hear this, I wish all the best to him and his family.
No offense, but how is this relevant to trade rumors?
Because its related to baseball.
Well, we cover managerial matters, and he was the Diamondbacks manager as recently as September of last year and could be seen as a future candidate.
Beyond that, we have covered (and will continue to cover) certain news items that are of particular interest to the industry and/or our readers, even if they are not clearly and directly tied to transactional matters.
I, for one, greatly enjoy when you guys do this. There have been a few older players who have passed that I’ve learned about through here.
They always cover baseball related stuff like this, like when Oscar Tavares (rip) died…why would you even ask?
terrible news :(. My late grandmother was once afflicted with this horrible disease. Best wishes to Mr Gibson and his family.
Good luck to Kirk in the future with this terrible disease.
Remember when he 1st signed with the Tigers and reported to the Lakeland Tigers as a really young kid.. Nice guy that took all the grief in stride from opposing fans with regard to the huge bonus he received. Still have a newspaper cutout he has with him inking the 1st pro contract and a stuffed Tiger next to it and got him to sign it while he was playing for Lakeland those many years back.
Best Wishes to Kirk Gibson and his family
With advanced medical treatments and bio tech breakthroughs,
Gibson could get treatment to lead an almost normal life…
Correction to the article above about Gibson and All Star teams:
Gibson was selected to two All Star teams
1) With the Tigers AL
(by Sparky Anderson)
And
2) With the Dodgers NL ( by Tommy La Sorda).
Gibson turned down both All Star invitations
to spend time with his family during the All Star breaks..