Atwater Village mural pays tribute to famed ex-Dodger Kirk Gibson

Street artist and activist Corie Mattie joined with the Kirk Gibson Foundation for Parkinson’s to create a mural in Atwater Village paying tribute to the historic moment when Vin Scully said, “The impossible has happened,” after LA Dodger Kirk Gibson hit a stunning walk-off home run in the 1988 World Series.

Gibson had a stellar career in baseball, playing as right fielder for the Detroit Tigers from 1983 to 1987 and helping the Tigers win the 1984 World Series. He was a Detroit Tigers television analyst for five seasons, from 1998 to 2002, and in February of 2015 it was announced that he would return as a color commentator for the Detroit Tigers on Fox Sports Detroit.

In April of 2015 the public learned that Gibson had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.

The mural unveiled on Monday, July 24, is titled “The Impossible CAN Happen,” supporting the view of the Kirk Gibson Foundation for Parkinson’s foundation, which said in a statement, “With hope and inspiration, we can overcome any obstacle, and together as a team, we can help find a cure for Parkinson’s.”

The mural will add more art to the community, the foundation said, “while creating awareness and a fundraising initiative for the foundation,” formed by Gibson after his diagnosis.

“I am determined to bring awareness to the Parkinson’s community and hope this mural encourages everyone to keep up the momentum in this fight,” Gibson said in prepared comments.

In Dodger red, white, and blue, Mattie’s mural captures Gibson’s triumphant home run hit in 1988 and his baseball legacy. He wore jersey number 23, which inspired Team23, a grassroots fundraising and volunteer team at the Kirk Gibson Foundation for Parkinson’s that is highlighted in the mural.

Mattie, who is known as the LA Hope Dealer, said, “All of my murals have a QR code that creates direct access to donate. With this intersecting Kirk’s Foundation and baseball in the city I love, it’s just too perfect.”

Michelle Newman, chief operating officer for the foundation, added,  “As we reach the 35th anniversary of this iconic moment in baseball, all of us here at the foundation are excited to share Kirk’s vision in such a creative way.”

The foundation wants to create awareness and understanding about Parkinson’s disease, and says too many people are in denial about the disease or fear a stigma and delay seeking medical help. The organization says that early diagnosis and treatment can result in years that are virtually symptom-free, and life expectancy is about the same as for people without the illness.

Source: Orange County Register