Legendary baseball player Willie Mays Aikens’s net worth is exactly unavailable. Hey there, sports fans and curious minds! Today, we’re diving into the fascinating world of Willie Mays Aikens, whose name echoes through the halls of Major League Baseball’s (MLB) brilliant history. 

From 1977 to 1994,before his forced retirement(Sentenced to prison 20 years for drug involvement)Mr Aikens played dedicatedly as a professional baseball first baseman California Angels,Kansas City Royals & Toronto Blue Jays.

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Willie Aikens bio-A quick overview

Childhood Story of the baseball legend Willie Mays Aikens

Willie Mays Aikens’s story begins in Seneca, South Carolina, in a small neighborhood called Bruce Hill. 

In an interview, Willie Mays Aikens expressed that “I started playing baseball, football and basketball when I was six or seven,” recalls Aikens. “I just remember being really good at all of them. I made the varsity baseball team in 8th grade and my coach Willie McNeil took me under his wing. He told me I had the chance to be something special.”

Despite the hard times, he never let them stop his big dreams. Imagine a determined kid throwing rocks like baseballs and swinging sticks as bats, already working hard to shine as a star. In high school, he became a local hero by excelling in three sports! Aikens stood out on the field, court, and diamond. He amazed everyone with his strong arm, quick moves, and a big heart. His talent was remarkable, and South Carolina State University—a famous Black college—offered him scholarships for both baseball and football. What a great slam dunk!

But life surprised Aikens during his freshman year: SC State cut its baseball program. That’s a shame, isn’t it? At that crucial time,Here comes his high school coach, Willie McNeil—another great  MVP. McNeil connected him with a tough semi-pro summer league in Baltimore, Maryland, where Aikens played with great energy. Fans went wild for his hard work, and scouts were amazed! 

On a hot summer day, California Angels scout Walter Youse’s , talent hunter, saw Aikens hitting home runs like they were pieces of candy. Before you know it? Bang! The Angels selected him as the second pick in the 1975 MLB draft. From making bats at home to achieving big-league success—Aikens showed that hard work and determination can make any underdog a legend. That was impressive!

Willie Mays Aikens Education

Willie Mays Aikens, a talented baseball player who graduated from Seneca High School in 1972, accepted a baseball and football scholarship to South Carolina State University. He developed his athletic ability after being passed over in the high school draft, playing baseball and football in college.

The colorful career of Aikens

Aikens played baseball for the Royals from 1980 to 1983.

He played in the big leagues for eight years, including two seasons with the California Angels in 1977 and 1979 and with the Toronto Blue Jays from 1984 to 1985.

During his time with the Royals, he played in four seasons and had a batting average of .282. He hit 77 home runs and had 297 runs batted in (RBI) in 511 games.

In the 1983 season, he did well by hitting 23 home runs and having a batting average of .302 with a .912 OPS.

In 1980, Aikens played for the Royals and helped them get to the World Series. He hit two home runs in a single game, which no other player has ever done. He got 12 hits out of 31 at-bats and hit four home runs. He also got ten runs batted in. He even hit more than one home run in Game 1 and Game 4 of the World Series.

The MLB career of willie aikens in chart

MLB Career Statistics in chart

Challenges and legal issues Aikens faced, including drug charges and imprisonment

According to the news source, Willie Aikens was then (1994) 40 years old; he used to play first base for the Kansas City Royals and was given a term of more than 20 years in jail without the chance of parole for selling cocaine that day.

It was 1983, and Aikens, Willie Wilson, Jerry Martin, and Vida Blue were all found guilty of a federal misdemeanor charge of trying to possess cocaine. He went to jail for three months for that crime.

The court sentenced Aikens to a 20-year and 8-month term for drug crimes, gun crimes, and attempting to bribe someone.

There were four counts of selling crack cocaine and one count of using a gun while dealing drugs. He was found guilty on August 16. He later admitted that he had bribed a drug test official by offering $100 to get them to give a fake urine sample. The offer of a payment was made while Aikens was out on bond before his sentencing.

Baseball hero Aikens was released on June 4,2008.after new federal drug laws were put in place. He is often mentioned as an example of what can happen with strict maximum sentences for drug crimes.

Willie Aikens’ family, personal life,daughters

Willie Mays Aikensn has kept much of his family life private just as his net worth. Here’s what’s confirmed.

Aikens’ career and family life changed in 1983 when he was arrested for selling cocaine to undercover officers. He spent 14 years in federal prison from 1994 to 2008. His family relationship was tough during this time, but he later thanked his wife and his daughters for being there for him after he got out.

Today, Aikens is a happy father of three daughters: Nicole and Sarita, whom he shares with his wife, and Lucia, from a past relationship. His amazing journey, from prison to a new life, is shown in the 2022 film The Royal, which shares the strong story of his life after prison.

Life after prison

Aikens was released in 2012 after serving time at the United States Penitentiary in Atlanta. Thanks to a big change in federal drug laws in 2008, he was released early on June 4, three months before his original date. Congress approved new guidelines that took effect right away.

This meant that people like Aikens could be released sooner. While he was in prison, Hal McRae, a former teammate from the Royals, was the only one who kept in contact with him. Hal helped him get a job in road construction after he was released. Aikens worked in manholes!

Aikens has worked hard to change his life since leaving prison. He has talked to students at schools, sharing his story of change and warning them about the mistakes he made. He has spoken with young players on the Royals, keeping his dream of returning to the game he loves alive. In November 2008, Aikens made an important move by publicly apologizing to Royals fans and the people of Kansas City for the hurt he caused. He shared this in the Kansas City Star.

Aikens received a new chance when the Royals announced on February 1, 2011, that they had hired him as a minor league coach. He got a job at the team’s training center in Surprise, Arizona. His start was delayed because of a personal challenge. His wife, Sara, had a stroke that was thought to be linked to lupus. Aikens kept moving ahead, even after the setback.

About “The Royal” movie: A movie on Willie Aikens’ personal life

In 2022, a movie called “The Royal” came out. It’s all about Aikens’ life story! Samuel Goldwyn Films released a movie titled “The Royal.” This was a story about Aikens’ life. The movie tells the story of his journey from a World Series hero to prison and then back to a normal life. It shows how he found redemption with his family, a new job, and eventually a position with the Royals, thanks to George Brett.

The book on Willie Aikens’ biography:“Willie Mays Aikens-Safe at home”

Both Willie Aikens & Gregory Jordan wrote about the legendary life of Willie Mays Aikens.

Pic credit:Amazon

Safe at Home shows the deep struggles of a troubled player and tells a powerful story of redemption. Gregory Jordan has created this comeback story by talking to Alkens, his family, friends, teammates, cellmates, and dealers. He tells it with care and a special depth.

Final Talks

Willie loves the game a lot and wants to stay close to it. He tells stories about his life to help others. Willie’s life teaches us that everyone makes mistakes, but we can always try to make things right.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Willie Mays Aiken’s net worth?                                                                                                           Ans. Willie Mays Aikens’ net worth is publicly unavailable.

2. Who is Willie Mays Aikens?

Ans. He is a famous California Angels and Kansas City Royals baseball player.

3. Did Willie Mays Aikens play any other sports?

Ans. Yes, he also played football when he was in college.

4. Why is Willie Mays Aiken famous?

Ans. He was known as one of baseball’s best hitters before he had drug problems.

5. How long did Willie Mays Aikens play baseball?

Ans. He played in Major League Baseball from 1977 to 1985.

6. Is Willie Mays Aikens the same as Willie Mays?

Ans. No, they are different people. Willie Mays, another baseball player whose real name is Willie Howard Mays Jr. (born May 6, 1931), nicknamed “the Say Hey Kid,” is an American former center fielder in Major League Baseball (MLB) with a net worth of $8 million.

Sources

1.https://baseballhall.org/discover/cardcorner-1981-topps-willie-aikens

2.https://www.abca.org/magazine/magazine/2015-3-Summer/Inside_Interview_Willie_Mays_Aikens.aspx

3.https://www.mlb.com/player/willie-aikens-110094

4.www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/aikenwi01.shtml