Kirk Gibson diagnosed with Parkinson's disease

Former Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson, a former MVP and World Series hero, announced Tuesday that he has been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.

Gibson, who helped the Detroit Tigers and Los Angeles Dodgers win championships as a player and led the Diamondbacks to the playoffs as manager in 2011, had been working as an analyst with Fox Sports Detroit but had been absent from the booth since Opening Day.

"I have faced many different obstacles in my life, and have always maintained a strong belief that no matter the circumstances, I could overcome those obstacles," Gibson, 57, said in a statement. "While this diagnosis poses a new kind of challenge for me, I intend to stay true to my beliefs. With the support of my family and friends, I will meet this challenge with the same determination and unwavering intensity that I have displayed in all of my endeavors in life. I look forward to being back at the ballpark as soon as possible."

Gibson is among about 1 million Americans with Parkinson's disease, an incurable movement disorder that attacks the nervous system and causes brain cells to die.

Most people are able to manage the disease with medication, therapy and exercise, doctors say. The average age of diagnosis is between 60 and 62, but people can be diagnosed as early as their 20s or in their 90s and beyond, experts say.

Actor Michael J. Fox, singer Linda Ronstadt and former heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali are among celebrities who have been diagnosed with Parkinson's, the second-most-common neurodegenerative disease, trailing only Alzheimer's.

Diamondbacks pitcher Daniel Hudson tweeted: "Devastated to hear about Gibby. If he brings half of the tenacity in this fight that he did on the field and the dugout, I like his chances"

"Some people have a real slow progression," said Abraham Lieberman, a Phoenix neurologist who counts Ali among his patients. "We're talking many years. For others, it can progress more quickly."

Gibson's revelation was met with encouraging messages on social media, sports programs and in clubhouses across Major League Baseball.

Diamondbacks pitcher Daniel Hudson tweeted: "Devastated to hear about Gibby. If he brings half of the tenacity in this fight that he did on the field and the dugout, I like his chances."

Gibson, whose famous home run won Game 1 of the 1988 World Series, managed the Diamondbacks for parts of five seasons from 2010 through 2014. He was fired in September with three games remaining in the season.

"I have so much respect for Gibby, not only as a player and former manager, but off the field, (where) he was a great friend," Diamondbacks infielder Aaron Hill said. "And I know that his passion to compete and his drive to win will help him and his family fight this diagnosis. He was always there for his players and we will support him and help in any way we can."

Said Diamondbacks pitching coach Mike Harkey: "I would expect Gibby to fight it like he fights everything else. He has a great support group. He has a great wife and a great family. I think he's going to be fine."

Derrick Hall, President and CEO of the Diamondbacks, tweeted these comments in reaction to the news.

"We are devastated about Kirk Gibson's news. I just sent him a note to tell him how much we love him. We know he will tackle this head on & bring awareness to the disease. He will always be an important part of our @dbacks family & we're here 4 support during this trying time."

Known for his intense and fiery play, Gibson was more subdued during his time with the Diamondbacks, which included manager of the year honors in 2011. He won the National League MVP Award in 1988, the year he helped the Dodgers win the World Series. He also won a World Series with the Tigers in 1984.

"We're all just hoping, praying that things work out," former teammate Alan Trammell told the Detroit Free-Press. "He's a very private person, and I respect that totally."

Lieberman, director of Barrow Neurological Institute's Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center in Phoenix, said that others may notice signs of the disease itself before the afflicted person does.

That may have been the case with Gibson. While watching a Diamondbacks broadcast three years ago, a Barrow doctor saw Gibson walking the field with short, shuffling steps.

"She came to me and said, 'Kirk Gibson has Parkinson's disease,'" Lieberman said of his colleague, whose assessment was not based on a comprehensive exam required for a diagnosis.

Lieberman said he did not think much about his colleague's words until Gibson revealed the diagnosis. He called his fellow Barrow doctor to tell her she was right.

By the time symptoms emerge, the disease already has started its march on the brain, destroying brain cells. Scientists don't know what causes Parkinson's, but researchers are trying to get a better idea of why clumps of protein accumulate in and kill brain cells.

Symptoms include tremors or shaking in a limb or finger. Those with the disease also may take shorter steps, drag their feet or trip and fall. Speech may become soft, slurred, halting or monotone. While Parkinson's is a movement disorder, the disease can also affect thinking or trigger anxiety and depression.

"You really want people to maintain their general health and have a positive outlook and say, 'I'm going to fight this,' " said John Caviness, a Mayo Clinic professor of neurology in Scottsdale. "It is certainly not a death sentence."

Lieberman said some patients can stave off the disease with speech and physical therapy and good health habits.

It's unclear what treatment Gibson will take, but Derrick Hall, president and CEO of the Diamondbacks, predicts Gibson will bring his trademark intensity to the fight.

"He's a competitor whether it's on the field or off or in his own personal life," Hall said "He's definitely going to tackle it head on. We know that."