BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE MAJOR LEAGUES : Gibson to Torment A’s Only in Memory

Kirk Gibson, who hit the most famous home run in Los Angeles Dodger history, retired Friday from the Detroit Tigers, saying he was “being traded to my family.”

Gibson, 38, said in written statement he had gone home to Michigan. The Tigers were in Milwaukee for a weekend series with the Brewers.

As a Dodger in 1988, he limped to home plate and hit a pinch homer off Dennis Eckersley to win the first game of the World Series against Oakland. It was his only at-bat in the series, but it sparked the underdog Dodgers to the title.

Gibson compiled a career batting average of .268, knocking in 870 runs and hitting 255 homers.

The outfielder spent 12 of his 17 seasons with the Tigers, and was a key in the club’s 1984 World Series drive.

“Kirk Gibson is one guy who will never have to look back and be ashamed of his career,” Manager Sparky Anderson said. “He played his career to its fullest, and he’s been a pleasure to manage.”

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Steve Bedrosian, the 1987 National League Cy Young Award winner who recorded 184 saves in a 13-year major league career, retired. Bedrosian, 37, had an earned-run average of 6.11 and a 1-2 record in 29 appearances this season. The Braves purchased the contract of right-handed reliever Matt Murray from triple-A Richmond. . . . The Kansas City Royals traded catcher Pat Borders to Houston for a player to be identified later, designated outfielders Vince Coleman and Chris James for assignment and activated pitcher Kevin Appier from the disabled list. Coleman is batting .287 with 20 runs batted in and 26 stolen bases. The Royals recalled outfielder Michael Tucker from triple-A Omaha, and purchased the contracts of outfielders Brent Cookson and Johnny Damon and catcher Henry Mercedes from the minors. . . . Outfielder Luis Polonia, who had been in limbo since Darryl Strawberry was called up by the New York Yankees, was traded to the Atlanta Braves for minor-league outfielder Troy Hughes. Polonia, hitting .261 with two homers, 15 RBIs and 10 stolen bases, is expected to join the Braves today. . . . B.J. Surhoff of the Milwaukee Brewers has torn cartilage in his right knee and will need arthroscopic surgery, but he’s hoping to delay the procedure until after the season. . . . The Oakland Athletics recalled Mike Gallego from a medical rehabilitation assignment at triple-A Edmonton. Pitcher Steve Phoenix was shipped to Edmonton. . . . The Texas Rangers sent right-hander Wilson Heredia to the Florida Marlins as part of the deal that sent pitcher Bobby Witt to Texas on Aug. 8. . . . The Chicago White Sox changed pitching coaches with Mike Pazik, 45, taking over from Don Cooper. Pitcher Larry Thomas was called up from double-A Birmingham and pitcher Atlee Hammaker was designated for assignment.