Gibson Calls It a Career : Baseball: He was the star of Dodgers’ 1988 World Series championship with only one at-bat.

Detroit Tigers star and clubhouse leader Kirk Gibson, who spent three seasons with the Dodgers (1988-90), retired Friday, saying he was “being traded to my family.”

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

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

But the most memorable moment of his career came as a Dodger in 1988, when he limped to home plate and hit a pinch-hit homer to win the first game of the World Series against Oakland. It was his only at-bat in the Series, but it sparked to underdog Dodgers to the title over the A’s.

In 1984, he was MVP of the American League playoffs, batting .417 against Kansas City, and had two home runs and seven RBIs in the World Series against San Diego. He also became the first Tiger with 20 homers and 20 stolen bases in a season.

Tiger Manager Sparky Anderson, speaking to reporters in Milwaukee, said Gibson informed him and shortstop Alan Trammell of his decision after Thursday night’s 7-2 loss to the Rangers in Texas. Gibson flew with the team to Milwaukee, then left for Detroit, Anderson said.

Gibson, a standout flanker for Michigan State, was drafted by the Tigers and by the NFL’s St. Louis Cardinals. He signed with the Tigers.

He played with Detroit until 1988. After his stint with the Dodgers, he played with Kansas City and Pittsburgh before the Tigers re-signed him as a free agent in 1993 and 1994.