Jim Leyland was at center stage on Saturday.
Before a warm crowd under a warm sun, Leyland got his due. As part of the ceremonies, he ran out to the mound at Comerica Park and threw a ceremonial pitch. The crowd showed the love.
Leyland embraced what Detroit was all about.
He was unpretentious and straightforward and crusty and real.
Not everyone loved him.
In fact, on the radio station 97.1, shortly before the ceremony on Saturday, one listener said he was a fraud.
But in reality, he was anything but that.
He took the Flordia Marlins and the Detroit Tigers to the World Series. He took the Pittsburgh Pirates to three straight National League championship series.
Of course, you could second guess him on certain calls. Why put this reliever in and why start so and so.? Coaches have to live with that.
Still, he was a guy who embraced Detroit and Detroiters returned that love.
