Stars of the 80s: Kirk Gibson vs. Darryl Strawberry

Published: August 4, 2024

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Last Updated: August 4th, 2024 by Jake Cain

The 80s were full of charismatic players and unforgettable moments. Two players who were at the center of it all were Kirk Gibson and Darryl Strawberry. Both had careers filled with highs and lows, dramatic home runs, and unforgettable moments. Let’s dive into the stats, the accolades, and the sheer impact each of these stars had on America’s pastime.

Kirk Gibson vs Darryl Strawberry — via Stathead

Early Careers and Highlights

Kirk Gibson’s Explosive Start

Gibson was born on May 28, 1957, in Pontiac, Michigan. He wasn’t just a baseball prodigy; he was also an All-American wide receiver at Michigan State University. After just one year of college baseball, the Detroit Tigers couldn’t ignore his talent and selected him in the first round of the 1978 MLB Draft. Gibson made his MLB debut in 1979 and quickly became a regular fixture in the Tigers’ lineup.

Darryl Strawberry’s Meteoric Rise

On the flip side, Darryl Strawberry, born on March 12, 1962, in Los Angeles, California, made his mark a few years later. Drafted first overall by the New York Mets in 1980, Strawberry’s high leg kick and powerful swing drew comparisons to greats like Ted Williams. He debuted in 1983 and took home the NL Rookie of the Year award, thanks to his 26 home runs and 74 RBIs.

Peak Performance and Prime Years

Gibson’s Versatility and Clutch Performances

Gibson’s career was marked by versatility and clutch hitting. While he batted .268 with 255 home runs and 870 RBIs over 17 seasons, his real claim to fame was his ability to deliver when it mattered most. In the 1984 World Series, Gibson hit a three-run homer off Goose Gossage, securing the Tigers’ championship. In 1988, as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers, he hit one of the most famous home runs in baseball history—an improbable walk-off against Dennis Eckersley in Game 1 of the World Series, all while injured.

Standard Batting
Year	Age	Tm	Lg	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	OPS+	TB	GDP	HBP	SH	SF	IBB	Pos	Awards
1979	22	DET	AL	12	39	38	3	9	3	0	1	4	3	3	1	3	.237	.256	.395	.651	71	15	0	0	0	0	0	/7H98
1980	23	DET	AL	51	189	175	23	46	2	1	9	16	4	7	10	45	.263	.303	.440	.743	100	77	0	1	1	2	0	8H/D
1981	24	DET	AL	83	313	290	41	95	11	3	9	40	17	5	18	64	.328	.369	.479	.848	141	139	9	2	1	2	1	98H/D7	MVP-12
1982	25	DET	AL	69	294	266	34	74	16	2	8	35	9	7	25	41	.278	.341	.444	.785	114	118	2	1	1	1	2	8/DH
1983	26	DET	AL	128	467	401	60	91	12	9	15	51	14	3	53	96	.227	.320	.414	.734	104	166	2	4	5	4	3	D7H8/9
1984	27	DET	AL	149	611	531	92	150	23	10	27	91	29	9	63	103	.282	.363	.516	.879	142	274	4	8	3	6	6	*9H/D8	MVP-6
1985	28	DET	AL	154	670	581	96	167	37	5	29	97	30	4	71	137	.287	.364	.518	.882	140	301	5	5	3	10	16	*98/DH	MVP-18
1986	29	DET	AL	119	521	441	84	118	11	2	28	86	34	6	68	107	.268	.371	.492	.863	133	217	8	7	1	4	4	*9/DH8
1987	30	DET	AL	128	568	487	95	135	25	3	24	79	26	7	71	117	.277	.372	.489	.861	130	238	5	5	1	4	8	*7/HD8
1988	31	LAD	NL	150	632	542	106	157	28	1	25	76	31	4	73	120	.290	.377	.483	.860	148	262	8	7	3	7	14	*7/H8	MVP-1,SS
1989	32	LAD	NL	71	292	253	35	54	8	2	9	28	12	3	35	55	.213	.312	.368	.679	95	93	5	2	0	2	5	78/H
1990	33	LAD	NL	89	359	315	59	82	20	0	8	38	26	2	39	65	.260	.345	.400	.745	108	126	4	3	0	2	0	87/H
1991	34	KCR	AL	132	540	462	81	109	17	6	16	55	18	4	69	103	.236	.341	.403	.744	106	186	9	6	1	2	3	7DH/9
1992	35	PIT	NL	16	60	56	6	11	0	0	2	5	3	1	3	12	.196	.237	.304	.541	53	17	1	0	1	0	0	9/H
1993	36	DET	AL	116	454	403	62	105	18	6	13	62	15	6	44	87	.261	.337	.432	.769	107	174	2	4	0	3	4	D8H/7
1994	37	DET	AL	98	382	330	71	91	17	2	23	72	4	5	42	69	.276	.358	.548	.906	130	181	2	3	2	5	3	D89H
1995	38	DET	AL	70	265	227	37	59	12	2	9	35	9	2	33	61	.260	.358	.449	.808	109	102	6	3	0	2	3	D/H9
17 Yrs				1635	6656	5798	985	1553	260	54	255	870	284	78	718	1285	.268	.352	.463	.815	123	2686	72	61	23	56	72
162 Game Avg.				162	659	574	98	154	26	5	25	86	28	8	71	127	.268	.352	.463	.815	123	266	7	6	2	6	7
				G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	OPS+	TB	GDP	HBP	SH	SF	IBB	Pos	Awards
DET (12 yrs)				1177	4773	4170	698	1140	187	45	195	668	194	64	499	930	.273	.354	.480	.834	125	2002	45	43	18	43	50
LAD (3 yrs)				310	1283	1110	200	293	56	3	42	142	69	9	147	240	.264	.353	.433	.786	125	481	17	12	3	11	19
KCR (1 yr)				132	540	462	81	109	17	6	16	55	18	4	69	103	.236	.341	.403	.744	106	186	9	6	1	2	3
PIT (1 yr)				16	60	56	6	11	0	0	2	5	3	1	3	12	.196	.237	.304	.541	53	17	1	0	1	0	0

AL (13 yrs)				1309	5313	4632	779	1249	204	51	211	723	212	68	568	1033	.270	.352	.472	.825	123	2188	54	49	19	45	53
NL (4 yrs)				326	1343	1166	206	304	56	3	44	147	72	10	150	252	.261	.348	.427	.775	121	498	18	12	4	11	19

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 6/4/2024.

Strawberry’s Power and Consistency

Strawberry, on the other hand, was a powerhouse. During his prime years with the Mets from 1984 to 1990, he was a perennial All-Star, leading the NL in home runs (39) in 1988, the same year he narrowly lost the MVP race to Gibson. He finished his career with 335 home runs, 1,000 RBIs, and a .259 batting average. Strawberry also brought home three World Series titles, two with the Yankees and one with the Mets, establishing himself as one of the most feared sluggers of his time.

Standard Batting
Year	Age	Tm	Lg	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	OPS+	TB	GDP	HBP	SH	SF	IBB	Pos	Awards
1983	21	NYM	NL	122	473	420	63	108	15	7	26	74	19	6	47	128	.257	.336	.512	.848	134	215	5	4	0	2	9	*9/H	RoY-1
1984	22	NYM	NL	147	602	522	75	131	27	4	26	97	27	8	75	131	.251	.343	.467	.810	127	244	8	0	1	4	15	*98/H	AS
1985	23	NYM	NL	111	470	393	78	109	15	4	29	79	26	11	73	96	.277	.389	.557	.947	164	219	9	1	0	3	13	*98/H	AS
1986	24	NYM	NL	136	562	475	76	123	27	5	27	93	28	12	72	141	.259	.358	.507	.865	139	241	4	6	0	9	9	*9/H7	AS
1987	25	NYM	NL	154	640	532	108	151	32	5	39	104	36	12	97	122	.284	.398	.583	.981	162	310	4	7	0	4	13	*9/H	AS,MVP-6
1988	26	NYM	NL	153	640	543	101	146	27	3	39	101	29	14	85	127	.269	.366	.545	.911	165	296	6	3	0	9	21	*9/H	AS,MVP-2,SS
1989	27	NYM	NL	134	541	476	69	107	26	1	29	77	11	4	61	105	.225	.312	.466	.779	125	222	4	1	0	3	13	*9/H	AS
1990	28	NYM	NL	152	621	542	92	150	18	1	37	108	15	8	70	110	.277	.361	.518	.879	140	281	5	4	0	5	15	*9/H	AS,MVP-3,SS
1991	29	LAD	NL	139	588	505	86	134	22	4	28	99	10	8	75	125	.265	.361	.491	.852	140	248	8	3	0	5	4	*9/H	AS,MVP-9
1992	30	LAD	NL	43	177	156	20	37	8	0	5	25	3	1	19	34	.237	.322	.385	.707	101	60	2	1	0	1	4	9/7H
1993	31	LAD	NL	32	120	100	12	14	2	0	5	12	1	0	16	19	.140	.267	.310	.577	58	31	1	2	0	2	1	9/7H
1994	32	SFG	NL	29	113	92	13	22	3	1	4	17	0	3	19	22	.239	.363	.424	.787	110	39	2	0	0	2	4	9/H
1995	33	NYY	AL	32	99	87	15	24	4	1	3	13	0	0	10	22	.276	.364	.448	.812	112	39	0	2	0	0	1	D9/H7
1996	34	NYY	AL	63	237	202	35	53	13	0	11	36	6	5	31	55	.262	.359	.490	.849	112	99	3	1	0	3	5	D7/H9
1997	35	NYY	AL	11	32	29	1	3	1	0	0	2	0	0	3	9	.103	.188	.138	.325	-13	4	2	0	0	0	0	/D7H
1998	36	NYY	AL	101	345	295	44	73	11	2	24	57	8	7	46	90	.247	.354	.542	.896	132	160	1	3	0	1	4	D7/H
1999	37	NYY	AL	24	66	49	10	16	5	0	3	6	2	0	17	16	.327	.500	.612	1.112	185	30	0	0	0	0	0	D/H
17 Yrs				1583	6326	5418	898	1401	256	38	335	1000	221	99	816	1352	.259	.357	.505	.862	138	2738	64	38	1	53	131
162 Game Avg.				162	647	554	92	143	26	4	34	102	23	10	84	138	.259	.357	.505	.862	138	280	7	4	0	5	13
				G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	OPS+	TB	GDP	HBP	SH	SF	IBB	Pos	Awards
NYM (8 yrs)				1109	4549	3903	662	1025	187	30	252	733	191	75	580	960	.263	.359	.520	.878	145	2028	45	26	1	39	108
NYY (5 yrs)				231	779	662	105	169	34	3	41	114	16	12	107	192	.255	.362	.502	.864	121	332	6	6	0	4	10
LAD (3 yrs)				214	885	761	118	185	32	4	38	136	14	9	110	178	.243	.340	.445	.786	121	339	11	6	0	8	9
SFG (1 yr)				29	113	92	13	22	3	1	4	17	0	3	19	22	.239	.363	.424	.787	110	39	2	0	0	2	4

NL (12 yrs)				1352	5547	4756	793	1232	222	35	294	886	205	87	709	1160	.259	.356	.506	.862	140	2406	58	32	1	49	121
AL (5 yrs)				231	779	662	105	169	34	3	41	114	16	12	107	192	.255	.362	.502	.864	121	332	6	6	0	4	10

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 6/4/2024.

Awards and Accolades

Gibson’s Awards

2× World Series Champion (1984, 1988)
NL MVP (1988)
ALCS MVP (1984)
Silver Slugger Award (1988)
NL Manager of the Year (2011)

Gibson’s 1988 MVP award is particularly noteworthy. While his stats that year (.290 average, 25 home runs, 76 RBIs, and 31 stolen bases) were impressive, it was his leadership and clutch performances that tipped the scales in his favor.

Strawberry’s Awards

8× All-Star (1984–1991)
3× World Series Champion (1986, 1996, 1999)
NL Rookie of the Year (1983)
2× Silver Slugger Award (1988, 1990)
NL home run leader (1988)
New York Mets No. 18 retired
New York Mets Hall of Fame

Strawberry’s accolades speak to his consistent excellence, especially his eight consecutive All-Star selections and his 1988 home run title.

Personal Challenges and Comebacks

Gibson’s Resilience

While Gibson’s career was not without its challenges, including a temporary retirement and battling Parkinson’s disease later in life, he continuously showcased resilience. After his playing days, he served as a manager and coach, even earning the NL Manager of the Year award in 2011. His ability to inspire and lead, both on and off the field, defines his legacy.

Strawberry’s Struggles and Redemption

Strawberry’s journey was fraught with more personal turmoil. His battles with substance abuse led to multiple suspensions and legal issues. Despite these setbacks, Strawberry made several comebacks, contributing significantly to the Yankees’ late-90s dynasty. His post-playing career has been marked by his work as an ordained minister and his dedication to helping others overcome addiction.

Impact on the Game and Legacy

Gibson’s Lasting Impact

Gibson’s legacy is highlighted by his clutch moments and leadership qualities. His dramatic home runs in the World Series are still replayed and remembered as some of the greatest moments in baseball history. Beyond his playing days, his impact as a coach and manager, along with his battle against Parkinson’s, has made him an inspirational figure in the sport.

Strawberry’s Enduring Presence

Strawberry’s impact is felt both on and off the field. His raw talent and power left an indelible mark during his playing days, and his ability to overcome personal demons to find redemption and purpose is equally significant. His induction into the Mets Hall of Fame and the retirement of his number 18 are testaments to his lasting influence in the game.

Conclusion

Kirk Gibson and Darryl Strawberry are undeniably stars of the game. Gibson’s career is celebrated for its iconic moments and leadership, while Strawberry’s is remembered for prodigious power, personal battles, and ultimate redemption. Both players left unique legacies that transcended their impressive statistics, making them unforgettable figures in baseball history.