“The Royal” — a movie about Willie Aikens

Word is out that a movie is to be released next month portraying the life of Willie Mays Aikens, who was a boy who rose from poverty in Seneca to athletic stardom and became a 1980 World Series batting star for the Kansas City Royals.  Only to see his solid baseball career disintegrate into drug addiction and eventually a long prison term.  But Aikens story is also one of redemption, overcoming a drug habit and eventually re-employed by the Royals as a hitting instructor.  Willie Aikens was one of a handful of outstanding Seneca High athletes in the 1970s.  He hit prodigious home runs as a Bobcat and an American Legion player over the fences of Jim Jones Field, which today is Northside Elementary School property.  The movie has been titled, “The Royal” and is based on the writing of Aikens’ book author Greg Jordan.  Amin Joseph portrays Aikens.  Nic Bishop fills the role of Kansas City 3rd baseman and Aikens’ teammate George Brett.  Aikens is well-remembered in his Seneca hometown.  Among his friends and mentors is Charley Thompson, who coach Aikens in both football and basketball.  And Thompson says he had a phone call from Aikens only a couple of weeks ago.