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'Sweet Lou' Whitaker Makes Return To Comerica Park For Fans, Award

DETROIT (CBS DETROIT) - To a chorus cheering 'Lou', the man known during his career as "Sweet Lou" Whitaker returned to Detroit to be honored.

Whitaker spent nearly 20 years playing second base for the Detroit Tigers, helping to lead them to the World Series in 1984.

WWJ's Greg Bowman moderated a question and answer session with Whitaker and fans before he received a special honor Sunday at Comerica Park.

Whitaker says he's honored to receive the Tigers 2015 African American Legacy Award but says he never played the game for tributes or awards.

"Many fans have told me, over the years, it's good just to see people out there playing the game - enjoying the game and not looking for all the accolades and all the attention on the field, but just go out and play and have fun and, you know, the fans appreciate that," said Whitaker.

When asked how to get kids off the computer and on the playing field Whitaker didn't hesitate:

"Take the computers out of their hands - take the phones out of their hands and tell them to get outside and play. Just go out and play and have fun," said Whitaker.

Whitaker played with the Tigers between 1976 and 1995 and says he never dreamed of anything else but becoming a major league baseball player.

He says he's happy he got to play his entire career with Detroit.

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