Kirk Gibson
Outfielder · Career Stats, Bio & Records (1979-1995)
Kirk Gibson was an outfielder who played in Major League Baseball from 1979 to 1995 for 4 teams, including the Detroit Tigers, a span of 17 seasons. In 1,635 career games, he hit .268 with 1,553 hits, 255 home runs, and 870 RBI. Kirk Gibson was an MVP, an ALCS MVP, and a Silver Slugger. His career PIV — Baseball Data Hub's era-adjusted measure of offensive impact — is 15,883.
- AVG (Batting Average):
- Hits divided by at bats. .300 is the traditional mark of an excellent hitter.
- HR (Home Runs):
- Hits on which the batter circled the bases and scored, almost always by clearing the outfield fence.
- RBI (Runs Batted In):
- Runs that scored as a direct result of a batter's plate appearance.
- OPS (On-Base Plus Slugging):
- On-base percentage plus slugging percentage, the quickest single summary of offensive value. .900 or better is star-level.
Data updated
- Position
- Outfielder
- Bats / Throws
- L / L
- Height / Weight
- 6'3" / 215 lb
- MLB Debut
- 1979-09-08
- Last Game
- 1995-08-10
- Awards
- MVP · ALCS MVP · Silver Slugger
Full name: Kirk Harold Gibson
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,635 | 5,798 | 985 | 1,553 | 260 | 54 | 255 | 870 | 284 | 718 | 1,285 | .268 | .352 | .463 | .815 | 15,883 |
Career AVG .268 vs. league average .260 across their career seasons — near league average.
Career OBP .352 vs. league average .326 across their career seasons — +7.8% above league average.
Career SLG .463 vs. league average .392 across their career seasons — +18.2% above league average.
Career OPS .815 vs. league average .718 across their career seasons — +13.5% above league average.
Season-by-Season Batting
Click a stat to plot it across every season.
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | Lg AVG | Lg OBP | Lg SLG | Lg OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | DET | AL | 12 | 38 | 3 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 3 | .237 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 1980 | DET | AL | 51 | 175 | 23 | 46 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 16 | 4 | 10 | 45 | .263 | .264 (-1%) | .326 (-7%) | .387 (+13%) | .714 (+4%) | 79.7 |
| 1981 | DET | AL | 83 | 290 | 41 | 95 | 11 | 3 | 9 | 40 | 17 | 18 | 64 | .328 | .255 (+28%) | .320 (+15%) | .368 (+30%) | .688 (+23%) | 1131.9 |
| 1982 | DET | AL | 69 | 266 | 34 | 74 | 16 | 2 | 8 | 35 | 9 | 25 | 41 | .278 | .261 (+7%) | .324 (+5%) | .388 (+14%) | .712 (+10%) | 466.5 |
| 1983 | DET | AL | 128 | 401 | 60 | 91 | 12 | 9 | 15 | 51 | 14 | 53 | 96 | .227 | .260 (-13%) | .324 (-1%) | .389 (+6%) | .714 (+3%) | 206.7 |
| 1984 | DET | AL | 149 | 531 | 92 | 150 | 23 | 10 | 27 | 91 | 29 | 63 | 103 | .282 | .259 (+9%) | .322 (+13%) | .384 (+34%) | .707 (+24%) | 2551.6 |
| 1985 | DET | AL | 154 | 581 | 96 | 167 | 37 | 5 | 29 | 97 | 30 | 71 | 137 | .287 | .257 (+12%) | .323 (+13%) | .390 (+33%) | .714 (+24%) | 2713.7 |
| 1986 | DET | AL | 119 | 441 | 84 | 118 | 11 | 2 | 28 | 86 | 34 | 68 | 107 | .268 | .257 (+4%) | .325 (+14%) | .395 (+25%) | .720 (+20%) | 1852.7 |
| 1987 | DET | AL | 128 | 487 | 95 | 135 | 25 | 3 | 24 | 79 | 26 | 71 | 117 | .277 | .262 (+5%) | .331 (+12%) | .415 (+18%) | .746 (+15%) | 1635.5 |
| 1988 | LAN | NL | 150 | 542 | 106 | 157 | 28 | 1 | 25 | 76 | 31 | 73 | 120 | .290 | .254 (+14%) | .317 (+19%) | .377 (+28%) | .695 (+24%) | 2691.0 |
| 1989 | LAN | NL | 71 | 253 | 35 | 54 | 8 | 2 | 9 | 28 | 12 | 35 | 55 | .213 | .254 (-16%) | .319 (-2%) | .375 (-2%) | .694 (-2%) | -54.7 |
| 1990 | LAN | NL | 89 | 315 | 59 | 82 | 20 | 0 | 8 | 38 | 26 | 39 | 65 | .260 | .257 (+1%) | .324 (+6%) | .385 (+4%) | .710 (+5%) | 355.0 |
| 1991 | KCA | AL | 132 | 462 | 81 | 109 | 17 | 6 | 16 | 55 | 18 | 69 | 103 | .236 | .255 (-8%) | .323 (+6%) | .384 (+5%) | .708 (+5%) | 599.3 |
| 1992 | PIT | NL | 16 | 56 | 6 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 12 | .196 | .255 (-23%) | .322 (-26%) | .377 (-20%) | .699 (-23%) | -200.4 |
| 1993 | DET | AL | 116 | 403 | 62 | 105 | 18 | 6 | 13 | 62 | 15 | 44 | 87 | .261 | .265 (-2%) | .332 (+1%) | .403 (+7%) | .735 (+5%) | 343.5 |
| 1994 | DET | AL | 98 | 330 | 71 | 91 | 17 | 2 | 23 | 72 | 4 | 42 | 69 | .276 | .269 (+2%) | .338 (+6%) | .424 (+29%) | .763 (+19%) | 1177.8 |
| 1995 | DET | AL | 70 | 227 | 37 | 59 | 12 | 2 | 9 | 35 | 9 | 33 | 61 | .260 | .266 (-3%) | .337 (+6%) | .417 (+8%) | .755 (+7%) | 333.4 |
| Career · 17 seasons | 1,635 | 5,798 | 985 | 1,553 | 260 | 54 | 255 | 870 | 284 | 718 | 1,285 | .268 | — | — | — | — | 15,883 | ||
Lg columns show the league average for that season, with the player's figure as a percentage above or below it. Career totals the seasons listed above.
Game Log & Splits
View full game log (1635 games) →Per-game data from Retrosheet (regular season, through 2025).
Batting — Home / Away
| Split | G | AB | R | H | HR | RBI | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home | 815 | 2822 | 484 | 757 | 119 | 447 | .268 |
| Away | 820 | 2976 | 501 | 796 | 136 | 423 | .267 |
Last 10 Games — Batting
| Date | Tm | Opp | Res | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995-08-10 | DET | TEX | L | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 1995-08-08 | DET | TEX | L | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1995-08-06 | DET | NYY | W | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1995-08-04 | DET | NYY | L | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1995-08-03 | DET | BOS | L | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1995-08-02 | DET | BOS | W | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| 1995-07-30 | DET | KCR | L | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1995-07-29 | DET | KCR | L | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| 1995-07-28 | DET | KCR | L | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1995-07-27 | DET | OAK | L | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | DET | OF | 10 | 8 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1980 | DET | OF | 49 | 41 | 122 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1981 | DET | OF | 67 | 63 | 142 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
| 1982 | DET | OF | 64 | 64 | 167 | 4 | 1 | 3 |
| 1983 | DET | OF | 54 | 48 | 116 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| 1984 | DET | OF | 139 | 128 | 245 | 4 | 12 | 2 |
| 1985 | DET | OF | 144 | 143 | 286 | 1 | 11 | 0 |
| 1986 | DET | OF | 114 | 113 | 190 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 1987 | DET | OF | 121 | 119 | 253 | 6 | 7 | 0 |
| 1988 | LAN | OF | 148 | 147 | 311 | 6 | 12 | 3 |
| 1989 | LAN | OF | 70 | 66 | 146 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| 1990 | LAN | OF | 81 | 80 | 191 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| 1991 | KCA | OF | 94 | 91 | 162 | 3 | 4 | 0 |
| 1992 | PIT | OF | 13 | 13 | 25 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1993 | DET | OF | 32 | 27 | 76 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1994 | DET | OF | 38 | 32 | 76 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 1995 | DET | OF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
Circle size = games played at each position.
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Left Field | 477 |
| Center Field | 325 |
| Right Field | 456 |
| Designated Hitter | 327 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Player of the Week | Week of 1995-05-27 |
| 1988 | Most Valuable Player | |
| 1988 | Silver Slugger | OF |
| 1986 | Player of the Week | Week of 1986-04-11 |
| 1986 | Player of the Week | Week of 1986-06-27 |
| 1986 | Player of the Week | Week of 1986-07-18 |
| 1985 | Player of the Week | Week of 1985-06-07 |
| 1984 | ALCS MVP | |
| 1981 | Player of the Week | Week of 1981-10-02 |
| 1981 | Player of the Week | Week of 1981-08-28 |
Salary History
Kirk Gibson's recorded salaries total $15,270,000 over 11 seasons, 1985 to 1995. This total is partial: the salary data covers 1985 to 2016, and Gibson's career ran from 1979 to 1995. His seasons before 1985 are not included.
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | DET | AL | $1,300,000 |
| 1994 | DET | AL | $1,500,000 |
| 1993 | DET | AL | $1,100,000 |
| 1992 | PIT | NL | $1,950,000 |
| 1991 | KCA | AL | $1,700,000 |
| 1990 | LAN | NL | $1,333,334 |
| 1989 | LAN | NL | $1,333,333 |
| 1988 | LAN | NL | $1,833,333 |
| 1987 | DET | AL | $1,335,000 |
| 1986 | DET | AL | $1,200,000 |
| 1985 | DET | AL | $685,000 |
| Total recorded salary (partial) | $15,270,000 | ||
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan State University | East Lansing | MI | 1978 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 1st | 272.0 | 336 | 13 |
| 1985 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 18th | 7.0 | 392 | 0 |
| 1984 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 6th | 96.0 | 392 | 0 |
| 1981 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 12th | 40.0 | 392 | 0 |
Most Similar Players
Career comps based on counting + rate stats and primary position. Score is relative — closest peer anchors at ~98%.
Kirk Gibson (highlighted) compared to peers across the same era.
Compare Kirk Gibson
Kirk Gibson: the record in brief
September 8, 1979 and August 10, 1995 bracket Kirk Gibson's time in the majors: the debut and the last game on record. By club, Gibson's seasons break down as the Detroit Tigers (1979 through 1995), the Los Angeles Dodgers (1988 to 1990), the Kansas City Royals (1991), and the Pittsburgh Pirates (1992). Gibson, born on May 28, 1957, in Pontiac, MI, USA, is listed as an outfielder and batted and threw left-handed. Size on record: 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds. On the record, Kirk Gibson was born Kirk Harold Gibson.
Gibson collected 1,553 hits in 5,798 at bats across 1,635 games, good for a .268 batting average, adding 255 homers, 870 RBI, and 284 stolen bases. On-base and slugging figures of .352 and .463 give Gibson a career OPS of .815. The .268 career average is close to the .260 the league hit across the same seasons. The OPS comparison is .815 to a league .718, 13.5% above average. No season beat the 29 home runs Gibson hit in 1985.
Frequently Asked Questions about Kirk Gibson
- What years did Kirk Gibson play?
- Kirk Gibson played in Major League Baseball from 1979 to 1995.
- Was Kirk Gibson a pitcher?
- No. Kirk Gibson was a position player (Outfielder).
- How many home runs did Kirk Gibson hit?
- Kirk Gibson hit 255 career home runs with 1,553 hits.
- What teams did Kirk Gibson play for?
- Kirk Gibson played for 4 teams: the Detroit Tigers (1979–1987, 1993–1995), the Los Angeles Dodgers (1988–1990), the Kansas City Royals (1991), and the Pittsburgh Pirates (1992).
- How many MVP awards did Kirk Gibson win?
- Kirk Gibson won 1 MVP award, in 1988.
- What awards did Kirk Gibson win?
- Kirk Gibson won the MVP award (1988) and the Silver Slugger award (1988).
- What were Kirk Gibson's career stats?
- In 1,635 games, Kirk Gibson had 1,553 hits, 255 home runs, 870 RBI, 985 runs, and 284 stolen bases, with a .268 batting average.
- How much did Kirk Gibson earn in his career?
- Kirk Gibson's recorded salaries total $15,270,000 over 11 seasons, 1985 to 1995. This total is partial: the salary data covers 1985 to 2016, and Gibson's career ran from 1979 to 1995. His seasons before 1985 are not included.
- What was Kirk Gibson's salary?
- Kirk Gibson's last recorded salary was $1,300,000, in 1995. His highest recorded salary was $1,950,000, in 1992, and his lowest was $685,000, in 1985. The Salary History table lists each season from 1985 to 1995.
- What position did Kirk Gibson play?
- Kirk Gibson played primarily as an outfielder, the position where he appeared in the most games.
- How tall was Kirk Gibson and how much did he weigh?
- Kirk Gibson was listed at 6 feet 3 inches and 215 pounds.
- How many home runs did Kirk Gibson hit each season?
- Kirk Gibson's home runs by season: 1 in 1979, 9 in 1980, 9 in 1981, 8 in 1982, 15 in 1983, 27 in 1984, 29 in 1985, 28 in 1986, 24 in 1987, 25 in 1988, 9 in 1989, 8 in 1990, 16 in 1991, 2 in 1992, 13 in 1993, 23 in 1994, and 9 in 1995. His most in one season was 29, in 1985.
- What was Kirk Gibson's career batting average?
- Kirk Gibson batted .268 over his career, with 1,553 hits in 5,798 at bats.
- How many RBI did Kirk Gibson have?
- Kirk Gibson drove in 870 runs in his career.