Willie Aikens

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Willie Aikens
Willie Mays Aikens.jpg
First baseman
Born: (1954-10-14) October 14, 1954 (age 70)
Seneca, South Carolina, U.S.
Batted: Left
Threw: Right
MLB debut
May 17, 1977, for the California Angels
Last MLB appearance
April 27, 1985, for the Toronto Blue Jays

Aikens was called to testify in the Pittsburgh drug trials of Curtis Strong as his major league career was winding down. His legal problems continued after his retirement, culminating in his being found guilty of selling 50 grams (1.8 oz) of crack cocaine to an undercover police officer and sentenced to 20 years and eight months in prison in 1994.[ citation needed ]

Aikens had developed a heavy cocaine habit and, by his own admission, was constantly using the drug from 1991 to 1994. Supposedly, a former lover tipped off the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department that Aikens was selling narcotics at his home. [16] Consequently, in December 1993, the police put Aikens' condominium under surveillance. The police observed numerous individuals entering Aikens' home and then exiting after a brief stay. On December 8, 1993, an undercover police officer named Ginger Locke approached Aikens standing in the garage of his condominium and asked for directions. After Aikens gave Locke directions, he told her that he was listed in the phone book and asked her to call him sometime. Locke called Aikens numerous times in order to establish a rapport with him. On January 18, 1994, Locke called Aikens and told him that she had loaned her car to a friend, and that the friend had been caught with some "stuff", referring to crack cocaine, in the car. Locke's story initiated a discussion about narcotics. Eventually, Aikens let Locke know that he could get her "all the stuff" she wanted.[ citation needed ]

Later that day, Locke drove to Aikens' home and asked him if she could buy an "eight ball", an eighth of an ounce of cocaine. Aikens asked Locke if she wanted her cocaine "hard", (crack form), or "soft", (powder form). She replied that she wanted it "hard." Aikens pointed to some crack cocaine sitting on an ottoman in his den and indicated that he did not have a full "eight ball" of crack on hand. He told Locke that he would have to make some more. Using equipment which he kept in his den, Aikens quickly proceeded to make crack by mixing powder cocaine with baking soda in a glass beaker, pouring water on it, heating it with a hand-held torch, baking it in a microwave, and then rinsing it with cold water. Aikens weighed some of the crack that he had made, along with some of the crack which he already possessed, on a dial-a-gram scale, and sold it to Locke for $200.[ citation needed ]

On January 24, 1994, Locke visited Aikens' home to buy more cocaine. Aikens had Locke drive him to his supplier's Kansas City home, where he used Locke's money to purchase powder cocaine. On the way back to Aikens' home, Aikens had Locke stop at stores where he could buy beakers and baking powder. When Aikens and Locke returned to Aikens' home, Aikens converted the powder cocaine into crack, and he sold the crack to Locke. On January 28 and February 23, Locke returned to Aikens' home and arranged to buy more crack. On each occasion, Aikens called a supplier and had Locke accompany him while he obtained powder cocaine. On each occasion, Aikens converted the powder into crack upon returning to his home and sold the crack cocaine to Locke. In total, Aikens ending up selling about 2.2 ounces (62 g) to the undercover cop.[ citation needed ]

Aikens was arrested on March 2, 1994, [17] and after a March 17 mistrial, [18] a grand jury indicted Aikens on four charges of crack cocaine distribution in violation of 21 U.S.C on March 25. [19]

Because of the tougher federal guidelines for crack, he was sentenced as if he had sold 15 pounds (6.8 kg) of powder cocaine. He received the maximum sentence of 15 years and eight months, and received an additional five years because he allegedly had a loaded gun in the room where the drugs were sold. [20]

Life after prison

Aikens served his prison sentence in United States Penitentiary, Atlanta, and was scheduled to be released in 2012. He was released on June 4, 2008, three months after Congress approved new guidelines in the federal drug laws and made them retroactive. Hal McRae, the only former Royals teammate with whom Aikens corresponded while in prison, set Aikens up with a job in road construction, working in manholes. [21]

Since his release, Aikens has spoken at schools about his experiences and to the Royals' young players, always hoping to return to baseball. [22] In November 2008, he apologized to Royals fans and the people of Kansas City in the Kansas City Star . [23]

On February 1, 2011, the Royals announced that they had hired Aikens as a minor league coach who will be based at the franchise's complex at Surprise, Arizona. [24] The employment was delayed when his wife, Sara, suffered a stroke, [25] believed to have been a complication of lupus.

Aikens has three daughters: Nicole and Sarita with Sara, and Lucia from a previous relationship. [26]

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References

  1. ↑ Patrick Obley (October 10, 2004). "From the archives: A royal downfall". The State. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved September 2, 2011.
  2. ↑ "1977 California Angels Schedule". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 21, 2022.
  3. ↑ "Rod Carew to Be Sidelined 4 Weeks by Thumb Injury". New York Times. June 4, 1979.
  4. ↑ Durso, Joseph. "Angels Get Cowens In Deal With Royals," The New York Times, Friday, December 7, 1979. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
  5. ↑ Echlin, Greg (September 20, 2010). "Willie Aikens hopes for return to baseball". Fox Sports. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
  6. ↑ "1980 World Series, Game One". Baseball-Reference.com. October 14, 1980.
  7. ↑ "1980 World Series, Game Four". Baseball-Reference.com. October 18, 1980.
  8. ↑ "BASEBALL; Aikens Gets 20-Year Term", The New York Times December 13, 1994.
  9. ↑ "1980 World Series, Game Three". Baseball-Reference.com. October 17, 1980.
  10. ↑ Frank Litsky (October 18, 1986). "Blue Pleads Guilty to Cocaine Charge". New York Times.
  11. ↑ Welsch, Jeff (September 1, 2014). "Where Are They Now: Gary Redus". Billings Gazette . Billings, Montana . Retrieved January 7, 2018.
  12. ↑ Castro, Rubén (July 24, 2019). "Chris Carter y Willie Aikens, únicos en la LMB". Beisbol Puro (in Spanish). Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  13. ↑ Castro, Rubén (December 12, 2012). "Venados retira número 24 de Aikens". ESPN.com.mx (in Spanish). Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  14. ↑ Castro, Rubén (December 14, 2012). "Willie Aikens y su nuevo legado". ESPN.com.mx (in Spanish). Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  15. ↑ Flores, Andrés (August 8, 2019). "75 peloteros emblemáticos de la LMP: Willie Aikens". AS.com (in Spanish). Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  16. ↑ Mike Fish (December 19, 2003). "From big time to big house". Sports Illustrated . Archived from the original on July 18, 2012.
  17. ↑ "SPORTS PEOPLE: BASEBALL; Aikens Arrested". New York Times. March 3, 1994.
  18. ↑ "Ex-Royal Aikens Gets Mistrial". Bangor Daily News. March 18, 1994.
  19. ↑ "64 F.3d 372: United States of America, Appellee, v. Willie M. Aikens, Appellant". United States Court of Appeals. August 23, 1995.
  20. ↑ "Ex-major leaguer Aikens released after nearly 14 years". ESPN. June 4, 2008.
  21. ↑ Elizabeth Merrill. "Outside the Lines: Gaps in the Road". ESPN.
  22. ↑ "For The Record". Sports Illustrated . February 14, 2011. Archived from the original on November 4, 2012.
  23. ↑ Willie Mays Aikens (November 16, 2008). "Willie Aikens' words to Kansas City". Kansas City Star. royalsblog.kansascity.com.
  24. ↑ "Royals hire Willie Aikens as minor league coach". Sports Illustrated. February 11, 2011. Archived from the original on November 4, 2012.
  25. ↑ Dick Kaegel (February 10, 2011). "Aikens takes leave to be with ailing wife". MLB.com. Archived from the original on October 9, 2012.
  26. ↑ Sam Mellinger (March 24, 2011). "In a life defined by choices, Aikens chooses to believe". Kansas City Star.

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