Harbaugh sends a warm message to Spartans legend Kirk Gibson

Published Apr. 29, 2015 10:00 a.m. ET

Marcus Hartman

The best rivalries are built on both animosity and respect.

Michigan and Michigan State offered us a reminder of that via a Tweet from Jim Harbaugh, as the head coach of the Wolverines sent out good wishes to Michigan State legend and FOX Sports Detroit analyst Kirk Gibson, who recently announced he has been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.

While much of the sports world probably knows Gibson best for his walk-off home run against Dennis Eckersley that won Game 1 of the 1988 World Series for the Los Angeles Dodgers against the Oakland A's, he was a sports legend in the state of Michigan long before that.

Born in Pontiac, Gibson was an All-American wide receiver for Michigan State and helped lead the Spartans to a share of the Big Ten title in 1978. They upset a favored Michigan squad along the way that season, and Gibson led the Big Ten in receptions in '76 and '78.

He began his MLB career with the Tigers, helping that franchise win the 1984 World Series.