Kirk Harold Gibson, born 28 May 1957 in Pontiac, MI; grew up in Waterford, MI.

He attended Michigan State University where he was a wide receiver in football. He playes one year of baseball in college then was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals football team and the Detroit Tigers baseball team. He decided to go with baseball.

Kirk is a former two-sport athlete, best known for his major league baseball playing, his competitiveness and clutch hitting.

He was right fielder for the Tigers from 1983-1985 and was influential in their 1984 World Series championship. He became a free agent after the 1985 season but never received any significant offer nor did other free agents and re-signed with the Tigers.

In 1988 an arbitrator ruled the owners of the teams had colluded against the players and ruled 25 players were immediate free agents. Kirk then signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He led the Dodgers to the 1988 World Series championship hitting several key home runs. In the first game of that series, he pinch-hit, after being side-lined with an injury. After hitting the home run, he had to limp around the bases. This event made him a finalist in the sport’s "Greatest Moment of All Time".
In 1991 he was traded to the Kansas City Royals, in 1992 the Pittsburgh Pirates and his final three years (1993-1995) he spent with the Tigers. He was named the National League MVP in 1988. He is the only winner not to appear on an All-Star roster, in 1985 and 1998, because he refused the invitations.

He married JoAnn Sklarski, 22 December 1985, in a double ceremony with Dave Rozema marrying Sandy Sklarski, JoAnn’s sister. The marriage took place at Grosse Pointe Memorial Church in Grosse Pointe, Michigan.

He set a flying record in 1987, by flying a Cessna 206 to 25,200 feet in Lakeland, Florida – National Aeronautics Association.