Tigers honored Jim Leyland in the best way possible this weekend

The Tigers rolled out the red carpet for beloved skipper Jim Leyland on Saturday, just a couple weeks after he was officially inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Leyland went into Cooperstown without a team on his cap (he managed four teams including the Tigers during his 22-year career), but as one of the most successful managers in Tigers history, it was only right that he was paid his due at Comerica.

Tigers fans in attendance on Saturday got a "Jim Leyland Starter Pack" complete with a hat, sunglasses, and a mustache to wear as they watched the team retire his jersey number (No. 10) and send it up on the outfield wall alongside so many other Tigers greats. He also threw out the first pitch and exchanged lineup cards at home plate with Royals coach Vance Wilson.

After the ceremony concluded, he headed to the dugout to give AJ Hinch a hug and some parting instruction to the Tigers: "Go get a f—ing win."

And the Tigers listened. Despite yet another bullpen game and a roller coaster through nine innings, they walked it off in the 11th to heed Leyland's words.

Tigers paid tribute to Jim Leyland on number retirement day with a walk-off against Royals

Detroit faced off against former Tiger Michael Lorenzen, who was dealt to the Royals from the Rangers at the trade deadline this season. Lorenzen pitched a nice 5 2/3 innings, only giving up one run during that span while Kenta Maeda, the first out of the bullpen after Tyler Holton opened things up, gave up three.

The Tigers were still trailing by two going into the bottom of the ninth, but then Bligh Madris hit a solo home and Javy Báez doubled to score Zach McKinstry and even it up. Things went into the 10th — the Royals hit first with a sac fly, and the Tigers matched it with a Justyn-Henry Malloy RBI double. KC hit back again in the 11th, but two Detroit rookies got to play hero to wrap it up.

Parker Meadows, fresh from the IL, hit an RBI triple that had the crowd at Comerica on their feet. Then, with two outs, Wenceel Pérez hit a long single to right field that Hunter Renfroe tried and failed to make a play on. Meadows came around to score, and the Tigers stormed the field to mob Pérez.

After the game, Hinch said, "Skipper, that one was for you" in a perfect soundbite to wrap up a pretty perfect day.