Dodger legend Kirk Gibson, who had one of the most memorable moments in baseball history during the 1988 World Series for the Los Angeles Dodgers, 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 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.
