Willie Aikens

Infobox MLB retired
bgcolor1=#15317E
bgcolor2=#15317E
textcolor1=white
textcolor2=white
name=Willie Aikens
position=First Baseman / Designated Hitter
bats=Left
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date and age|1954|10|14
debutdate=May 17
debutyear=1977
debutteam=California Angels
finaldate=April 27
finalyear=1985
finalteam=Toronto Blue Jays
stat1label=Batting Average
stat1value=.271
stat2label=Home Runs
stat2value=110
stat3label=RBI
stat3value=415
teams=
*California Angels (by|1977, by|1979)
*Kansas City Royals (by|1980-by|1983)
*Toronto Blue Jays (by|1984-by|1985)
highlights=
*Led AL in intentional walks in 1981 with 12

Willie Mays Aikens (born October 14, 1954 in Seneca, South Carolina) is a former first baseman in Major League Baseball who played for the California Angels (by|1977, by|1979), Kansas City Royals (by|1980-by|1983) and Toronto Blue Jays (by|1984-by|1985). He graduated from South Carolina State University, and was selected by the Angels with the second pick of the by|1975 January amateur draft. He also played with Mexican team "Yaquis".

In by|1980, Aikens got the game-winning RBI in Game 3 of the 1980 World Series. It was the Royals' first-ever win in a World Series game. Aikens hit .400 for the series. He is the only player in World Series history to hit two home runs in the same game twice during the same World Series. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9400E0DE1F39F930A25751C1A962958260 "BASEBALL; Aikens Gets 20-Year Term", "The New York Times"] December 13, 1994.]

Aikens' career rapidly declined after by|1983. Following the 1983 season, Aikens and teammates Willie Wilson and Jerry Martin and former teammate Vida Blue pleaded guilty to attempting to purchase cocaine. Aikens was suspended and the Royals traded him to Toronto for designated hitter Jorge Orta. Aikens played parts of two seasons for Toronto, mostly as a DH, before winding up his career in the Mexican League. In 1985, Aikens testified in the scandalous Pittsburgh drug trials.

Further legal trouble

After his career, Aikens' legal problems continued, culminating when Aikens was found guilty of selling 63 grams of crack cocaine to an undercover police officer and sentenced to 20 years and 8 months in prison. Aikens is sometimes cited as an example of the results of mandatory minimum sentencing in drug-related crimes.

The Kansas City, Missouri Police Department received complaints that Willie Mays Aikens was selling narcotics at his home. 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, a police officer named Ginger Locke saw Aikens standing in the garage of his condominium. She approached him 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.

In December and January 1993, 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 indicated that he could get Locke "all" of the "stuff" that she wanted.

Later that day, Locke drove to Aikens' home and asked him if she could buy an "eight ball," i.e. an eighth of an ounce of cocaine. Aikens asked Locke if she wanted her cocaine "hard," i.e. in crack form, or "soft," i.e. in 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. He sold this crack to Locke for $ 200.

On January 24, 1994, Locke visited Aikens' home to buy more cocaine. Aikens called a supplier and arranged to get some "stuff." Aikens then 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 of 1994, 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.

On March 25, 1994, a grand jury indicted Aikens on four charges of crack cocaine distribution in violation of 21 U.S.C. United States v. Aikens, 64 F.3d 372, 373-374 (8th Cir. 1995)

Aikens served his prison sentence in a United States Penitentiary located in Jesup, Georgia. He was scheduled to be released in 2012.

Aikens was released from prison on June 4, 2008 because of recent changes in the federal drug laws.

Personal life

Aikens' daughter was elected queen of Mazatlan carnival in 2007.

References

External links

*Fish, Mike. [http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2003/writers/mike_fish/12/19/aikens/index.html "From big time to big house", "SI.com"] December 13, 1994.
*Obley, P. [http://www.thestate.com/sports/story/410474.html "From the archives: A royal downfall", "TheState.com"] October 10, 2004.
*Obley, P. [http://www.thestate.com/sports/story/410236.html "Release a possibility for Aikens", "TheState.com"] May 20, 2008.
* [http://bop.gov/iloc2/InmateFinderServlet?Transaction=NameSearch&needingMoreList=false&LastName=aikens&Middle=&FirstName=willie&Race=B&Sex=M&Age=&x=19&y=24 Prison ID information for Willie Mays Aikens]