Kirk Gibson, 22 years old, 6'3", 215 pounds. Bats left, throws left.
Turned down lucrative pro football career to sign $200,000 bonus contract with Tigers…A possible superstar, may be less than a year away…Showed steady, encouraging improvement both in minors and with Tigers in ’79…Played one year of college baseball at Michigan State, while earning All-America honors as a four-year starter in football…Extremely fast…Will improve as outfielder.
Dave Steffen, 21 years old, 6'3", 220 pounds. Bats right, throws right.
Strong, hard-throwing burly right-hander…Stopped by Tiger Stadium on his way to Florida Instructional League last fall to give Sparky Anderson a sneal preview…Started ‘79n season at AA but promoted to AAA at midseason…Helped Evansville to American Association title…Sixth-round pick in June, ’77.
THE REALITY
Gibson played in the majors from 1979-95 (17 seasons) for Detroit, Los Angeles, Kansas City and Pittsburgh. Career: .268, 255 HRs, 870 RBI. He played in the postseason in 84 (World Series), 87 and 88 (World Series). He was the NL MVP in 88 (with the Dodgers), and his pinch-hit, injured-leg, two-out, game-winning homer off Dennis Eckersley in the first game of the ’88 World Series will is replayed endlessly. He is now the bench coach for Detroit after working five years as a TV analyst.
Steffen never pitched in the majors. No record of what he’s doing now, but looks like his son is an athlete too.
