Decades after last playing for the Detroit Tigers, Kirk Gibson continues to make a lasting impression off the field.
In partnership with the Tigers, the Kirk Gibson Foundation for Parkinson’s has announced a new initiative that will help raise funds to improve the lives of those living with Parkinson’s disease. For each Tigers’ home game ticket purchased directly through the foundation, $5 will be donated back to support activity-based programs for individuals with Parkinson’s.
Gibson, 67, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2015 and expanded the Kirk Gibson Foundation, initially founded in 1996, to include support for Parkinson’s disease soon after. He was recently a color commentator for the Tigers on FanDuel Sports Net, but on March 17 announced he would be stepping away to focus on his health.
Gibson, a Detroit-area native and two-sport start at Michigan State, was drafted by the Tigers in the first round of the 1978 draft. He debuted with the Tigers on Sept. 8, 1979, and spent his first nine seasons with Detroit, leading the team to its most recent World Series title in 1984.
In his second stint with the Tigers, Gibson spent the last three seasons of his 17-year career with Detroit, retiring following the 1995 season.
The Kirk Gibson Center for Parkinson’s Wellness, located in Farmington Hills, is set to open later in 2025 and offer free wellness programs for people impacted by the disease.
Tickets from the foundation range from $20-55 each and are on sale on the foundation’s website.
