Gibson, Kirk H.
Baseball
b. May 28, 1957, Pontiac, MI
An All-American in both baseball and football at Michigan State, Gibson was drafted as a wide receiver by the NFL's St. Louis Cardinals in 1979, but he chose to play professional baseball.
He entered the major leagues with the AL's Detroit Tigers near the end of the 1979 season but was troubled by injuries until 1983, when he batted .282 with 27 home runs, 91 RBI, and 29 stolen bases.
The left-handed Gibson, who was 6-foot-3 and 225 pounds, was an outfielder but was often used as a designated hitter in the American League because of chronic knee problems. He was signed as a free agent by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1988 and was named the NL's most valuable player, batting .290 with 25 home runs, 76 RBI, and 31 stolen bases.
Gibson hit one of the most dramatic home runs in World Series history against the Oakland As in 1988. Hobbled by injury, he wasn't expected to play in the series, but he was sent in to pinch-hit in the 9th inning of the first game with a runner on, two outs, and the Dodgers losing 4-3. Facing Dennis Eckersley, baseball's best relief pitcher, Gibson hit a home run to win the game. The television shot of Gibson pumping his fists as he limped around the bases has been re-run over and over. The Dodgers went on to beat heavily-favored Oakland in five games.
Injuries continued to hamper Gibson during the next two seasons. He went to the Kansas City Royals of the AL in 1991 and was released after playing in just 16 games for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1992. Gibson returned to Detroit in 1993 and played three more seasons there, mostly as a designated hitter, before retiring.