Kirk Gibson

Arizona Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson talks with coaches in the dugout before a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Pittsburgh on July 2.

(AP Photo)

Former Tigers star Kirk Gibson celebrates his three-run homer in Game 5 of the 1984 World Series.

PHOENIX -- This may come as a bit of a surprise, but former Tigers star Kirk Gibson could be one of the Detroit Tigers' biggest fans.



A season-ticket holder since 1980, Gibson admitted Monday that he scours reports about the Tigers on a daily basis and has attended a handful of postseason games as a Tigers fan, including all four World Series games in 2012.



"I've supported them since I was a little kid," said Gibson, who entered this season in his fourth year as manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks.



Gibson's comments likely come as a shock to some Tigers fans who may have been under the impression Gibson has had a longstanding problem with the organization, including issues with several front office officials.



According to Gibson, that's simply not the case.



"I tend to pull for them -- except for today, tomorrow and the next day," Gibson said about the Tigers, who are in Arizona for a three-game series. "I follow the feedback and the comments, and I wish people would just get on one end of the rope and just pull with Brad (Ausmus) and the team. They've got great players. They're very strong. They've got a great front office. They've got a great owner."



Gibson's comments come less than a month after the former AL Championship Series MVP declined the Tigers' invitation to attend the 1984 World Series reunion on June 30.



The reunion date seemed ready-made for Gibson and former Tigers teammate Alan Trammell, now the bench coach under Gibson, as Arizona wasn't scheduled to play that day. Trammell made the trek to Detroit, but Gibson elected to stay behind.



Some speculated Gibson turned down the invitation due to bad blood with the Tigers, largely due to how Trammell and his coaches were let go after the 2005 season. Gibson, however, told reporters last month he simply had a prior commitment.



Gibson made no reference to the 2005 season or the 1984 reunion on Monday when asked about the highs and lows of his relationship with the Tigers organization. The only issue Gibson mentioned occurred in 1988 when then-owner Tom Monaghan made disparaging comments toward Gibson after he left for the Dodgers.



"The biggest conflict I had with the Tigers, really, was when Tom Monaghan said I was a disgrace to the Tigers' uniform," Gibson said.



Gibson was among several players who were granted immediate free agency in 1988 after an arbitrator ruled that baseball team owners had colluded against the players in an effort to stem free agency. Gibson went on to sign with Los Angeles.



"Other than that, I've had no conflicts," he said about the organization. "They've been great, they've treated me great, they've been generous to me."



Gibson also recalled an incident that occurred between him and Monaghan in the clubhouse during the team's celebration moments after the Tigers beat the San Diego Padres to win the World Series in 1984.



"They put the champagne in all the big coolers. I picked one up and dumped it over the top of him," Gibson recalled. "I was just screwing around. I was like, 'C'mon, man. Let's party!' And he gave me a really dirty look."



Thought to be a potential candidate to fill the Tigers' managerial vacancy this past winter, Gibson also mentioned a dislike for a comment Monaghan made to members of the media about Gibson's former teammate, Darrell Evans, for under-performing in 1984.

But nowadays, Gibson said any issue between him and Monaghan is water under the bridge. No grudge, no bad blood, he said.



"(Monaghan) called me, actually, the year after I went to the Dodgers and apologized and said he was out of line, and wanted to know if we could have lunch," Gibson said. "I said, 'I appreciate the comment, but hopefully you did learn from that and there's no need for lunch. Best of luck moving on.'



"Other than that, it's been great."



With the exception of a turbulent relationship between Gibson and Monaghan, the former Michigan State star said he holds no ill will toward the Tigers. He was even wiling to take some of the blame for his troubles with Monaghan.



"Let's be honest: I can't really place all the blame on him. I was a jerk," Gibson said. "He was half right: I wasn't a disgrace to the uniform, but I was crazy. I've admitted that many times."

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