Kirk Gibson
Kirk Gibson
Kirk Harold Gibsonis an American former professional baseball player and manager. As a player, Gibson was an outfielder who batted and threw left-handed. He spent most of his career with the Detroit Tigers but also played for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Kansas City Royals, and Pittsburgh Pirates. Gibson is currently a color commentator for the Detroit Tigers on Fox Sports Detroit...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionBaseball Player
Date of Birth28 May 1957
CityPontiac, MI
CountryUnited States of America
I guess I had some butterflies, if that's what you want to call it.
I grew up with Ernie Harwell. Jack Buck is, like Ernie, an icon. Of course in 1988, when he made the call, it was a special attachment that lasted a lifetime. Let's say it was well said. I couldn't believe what I just saw, either.
Now you really watch to see what guys are made of. Here's the toughest part about it: All those guys bust their butts. They try their butts off. I'm not bailing on these guys. If I see them quit, we'll have a different kind of talk.
We don't have that. We have to manufacture that. We're starting from a different spot, and we have to try to match that.
It happened very quickly. I'm a team guy, and I've been asked to do something, so I will.
Our biggest challenge is we played Boston, Cleveland, the White Sox and Cleveland again,
I'm behind them, I relate, Pay attention, guys: This is the level we need to play at consistently. That's the way it is.
I'm not out here to win a beauty contest.
There was a perception of me, and I earned it because I was really intense, really gruff. I treated certain people poorly at times. It was because of who I was. It was almost my strength. I came in all business. I tried to find ways to fit in with that demeanor, but it's not easy.
I was kind of a volatile personality, very intense. Because of that, I drew some criticism and people would say things about me, and my parents had tried to defend me. I would just tell them don't worry about it. Our day will come.
I got to experience a world championship with some great teammates.
Schools used to fund-raise for luxuries, like a trip to the water slides. Now, we fund-raise for things we have to have.
Everybody has bad at-bats -- except McCutchen.
Now here I am almost 52 years old, it's really easy. I'm way more at peace. But when you're a competitor, and you're as intent on becoming the best in the world as I was, it comes with consequences.