MLBPAA Announces Kirk Gibson as 2025 Recipient of Fred Valentine Lifetime Achievement Award

Logo courtesy of MLBPAA

Award to Be Presented at Comerica Park During Annual Alumni Day Reception on June 25!

Colorado Springs, CO (June 24, 2025) — The Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association (MLBPAA) is proud to announce Kirk Gibson as the 2025 recipient of the Fred Valentine Lifetime Achievement Award. Gibson, a celebrated MLB veteran, World Series champion, and longtime ambassador for the game and his community, will be honored during the MLBPAA’s Alumni Day Reception at Comerica Park in Detroit on June 25, 2025.

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).

“Fred Valentine was more than a great ballplayer, he was a man of character, compassion, and conviction,” said the MLBPAA Board of Directors. “Kirk Gibson represents these values in every way. Whether through his battle with Parkinson’s, his charitable foundation, or his leadership in the game, Kirk continues to inspire on and off the field.”

Kirk Gibson was nominated for this honor by Tim Leary,

former MLB veteran, who wrote: “Kirk Gibson has raised enormous amounts of money for Parkinson’s Disease with his Foundation, and it will keep raising money into the future. This assists people that now have Parkinson’s and is working for a cure! Tremendous leadership!”

In a letter to Mr. Gibson from Helena Valentine (widow of Fred Valentine) she stated, “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,” she added, “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.”

Gibson’s storied career,

includes some iconic moments with the Detroit Tigers with a three-run homer to clinch the title during the 1984 World Series and 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, especially through the Kirk Gibson Foundation for Parkinson’s, which funds research and support programs for those impacted by the disease.

The Kirk Gibson Foundation for Parkinson’s was formed by Kirk Gibson, after his diagnosis with Parkinson’s disease in 2015.  Gibson now spends his time supporting his mission and vision of spreading awareness for Parkinson’s and providing inspiration and hope to others who are living with Parkinson’s.

The mission of the Kirk Gibson Foundation for Parkinson’s is to improve the quality of life of those living with Parkinson’s through the development and delivery of activity-based programs. Through fundraising efforts and generous sponsor donations, the foundation has fulfilled their mission of opening a center for those living with Parkinson’s in Michigan.  The Kirk Gibson Center for Parkinson’s Wellness will open this fall in Farmington Hills, MI. The wellness center will be the first of its kind in Michigan, a world-class facility where those impacted by Parkinson’s can access a range of activity-based programs, completely free of charge with no insurance required.

The Center will provide a series of free programs,

many of which were developed by InMotion, a Cleveland based leader in the provision of evidence-based programs tailored for people with Parkinson’s disease. Movement matters in the fight against Parkinson’s and through leveraging the InMotion Approach^TM, the Kirk Gibson Center will provide an integrated, holistic system of wellness programs designed to counteract the symptoms of the disease and to improve the quality of life of those people living with Parkinson’s disease here in Michigan. Offering approximately 70 hours of weekly programming with 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 Mr. Gibson in a private ceremony as part of its Alumni Day festivities at Comerica Park, home of the Detroit Tigers, where Gibson’s legacy continues to loom large.

“We are honored to celebrate Kirk Gibson with this meaningful award,” the Board added. “He carries forward Fred Valentine’s spirit of leadership and service, and we are proud to recognize him as this year’s recipient.”

For more information on the MLBPAA and its mission to promote the game of baseball while giving back to the community, please visit https://www.mlb.com/mlbpaa. For more information about the Kirk Gibson Foundation for Parkinson’s, please visit www.KirkGibsonFoundation.org