DETROIT — Kirk Gibson has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, he said Tuesday.
The 1988 National League MVP was fired in September as manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks after four-plus seasons. He now calls Tigers games for Fox Sports Detroit, but Gibson had not been in the broadcast booth since Opening Day on April 6 while undergoing tests.
“I have faced many different obstacles in my life, and have always maintained a strong belief that no matter the circumstances, I could overcome those obstacles,” he said in a statement through the network.
“While this diagnosis poses a new kind of challenge for me, I intend to stay true to my beliefs. 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.”
The 57-year-old Gibson had one of the most memorable moments in baseball history with his limping, pinch-hit home run in the ninth inning of Game 1 of the 1988 World Series for the Dodgers. He also won a championship in 1984 with the Tigers, where he played 12 of his 17 major league seasons.
Thumbnail photo via Brad Rempel/USA TODAY Sports Images
