DETROIT – The Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association (MLBPAA) has announced that Detroit Tigers World Series champion Kirk Gibson is the 2025 recipient of the Fred Valentine Lifetime Achievement Award.
Gibson, a celebrated MLB veteran and longtime ambassador for the game and his community, will be honored during the MLBPAA’s Alumni Day Reception at Comerica Park on Wednesday, June 25, when the Tigers host the Oakland Athletics.
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Now in its third year, the Fred Valentine Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes former Major League players who exemplify the same integrity, passion, and dedication to service that Mr. Valentine, a founding member of the MLBPAA, embodied throughout his life.
The award honors alumni who have used their platform to uplift others, champion causes beyond the diamond, and positively impact their communities.
This special recognition was thoughtfully created by a specialty Board committee comprised of John Doherty, Clint Hurdle, and Mike Myers.
The previous Fred Valentine Lifetime Achievement Award Winners are Brooks Robinson (2023) and Rene Lachemann (2024).
“Like my late husband Fred, you have used the platform that baseball has provided to give back to the community in meaningful ways.
Your actions serve as an example to us all, showing how we can use our talents and notoriety to bless others. We are deeply grateful for individuals like you, Mr. Gibson, who dedicate themselves to making a difference in the lives of others. We offer our continued prayers for blessings upon you, your wife JoAnn, your family, and fans as you continue your important work.
Your tireless efforts to raise money and awareness for Parkinson’s Disease are truly inspiring.
Your dedication to this cause demonstrates remarkable strength and compassion. Beyond your philanthropic endeavors, your leadership and mentorship to countless ball players over the decades exemplify the spirit of servant leadership.
You have consistently put others first, guiding and supporting them both on and off the field.”
Helena Valentine (widow of Fred Valentine)
The MLBPAA is proud to announce Kirk Gibson as the recipient of our third annual Fred Valentine Lifetime Achievement Award.
— MLBPAA (@MLBPAA) June 23, 2025
This award honors the legacy of Fred Valentine, a founding member of the MLBPAA who embodied integrity, service in the community, and passion towards… pic.twitter.com/AndqHmOTGW
Gibson’s storied career includes some iconic moments, such as his three-run homer to clinch the title during the 1984 World Series, and with the Los Angeles Dodgers, including his unforgettable walk-off home run in the 1988 World Series.
Beyond his playing days, he has remained active in broadcasting, advocacy, and philanthropy, particularly through the Kirk Gibson Foundation for Parkinson’s, which funds research and support programs for individuals affected by the disease.
Kirk Gibson established the Kirk Gibson Foundation for Parkinson’s after his 2015 diagnosis with Parkinson’s disease.
Gibson now dedicates his time to supporting his mission and vision of raising awareness about Parkinson’s and providing inspiration and hope to others living with the disease.
The mission of the Kirk Gibson Foundation for Parkinson’s is to enhance the quality of life for individuals living with Parkinson’s through the development and delivery of activity-based programs.
Through fundraising efforts and generous sponsor donations, the foundation has successfully fulfilled its mission of establishing a center for individuals living with Parkinson’s in Michigan.
The Kirk Gibson Center for Parkinson’s Wellness is set to open this fall in Farmington Hills.
The wellness center will be the first of its kind in Michigan, a world-class facility where individuals impacted by Parkinson’s can access a range of activity-based programs, all completely free of charge, with no insurance required.
The Kirk Gibson Center for Parkinson’s Wellness will offer a series of free programs, many of which were developed by InMotion, a Cleveland-based leader in providing evidence-based programs tailored for people with Parkinson’s disease.
Movement matters in the fight against Parkinson’s, and through leveraging the InMotion ApproachTM, the Kirk Gibson Center will provide an integrated, holistic system of wellness programs designed to counteract the symptoms of the disease and improve the quality of life for those living with Parkinson’s disease in Michigan.
Offering approximately 70 hours of weekly programming with the initial capacity to provide 60,000 visitor hours per year, the center will ultimately serve as a model for collaborative coalitions in support of people living with Parkinson’s.
The MLBPAA will present the award to Gibson in a private ceremony as part of its Alumni Day festivities at Comerica Park, home of the Tigers, where Gibson’s legacy continues to loom large.
Click here for more information about the Kirk Gibson Foundation for Parkinson’s.
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