The former outfielder, manager, and broadcaster will focus on his charitable work going forward.
In a joint statement on Monday, two-time World Series champion and legendary Detroit Tigers and Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Kirk Gibson, along with the Tigers and FanDuel Sports Network, announced that he will not be in the broadcast booth for the 2025 season. This at least temporarily ends a broadcasting career broken up over 15 seasons with at least part-time duties on Tigers broadcasts. Gibson has been a special assistant since 2019, and will remain a special assistant to president of baseball operations Scott Harris going forward.
After retiring as a player following the 1995 season and the strike, Gibson’s first run as a broadcaster with the Tigers stretched from 1998 to 2002. From 2003 to 2005, he was Alan Trammell’s bench coach for the Tigers, before going on to a bench coach role and then his own managerial career with the Arizona Diamondbacks from 2010-2014. Gibson then returned to the Tigers’ broadcast booth as a part-time color commentator from 2015-2024.
In a statement, Gibson said that he plans to focus his energy on his own health and his continued advocacy for victims of Parkinson’s disease. His foundation will open the Kirk Gibson Center for Parkinson’s Wellness this fall. His foundation has funded research into preventive measures and treatment for years. Gibson himself revealed his diagnosis with the disease back in 2015.
“Through my Foundation, we are opening the Kirk Gibson Center for Parkinson’s Wellness this fall. Developing this Center is a huge endeavor that will be the first of its kind in Michigan providing those impacted by Parkinson’s with access to a range of activity-based programs, completely free of charge.
We wish Gibby all the best in his future endeavors and his battle with Parkinson’s, and perhaps he will still make some appearances at Comerica Park this season.
Andy Dirks and Dan Petry will be the two main color analysts alongside play-by-play man Jason Benetti this season. Carlos Pena and Todd Jones will both make appearances in that role as well.