"I'm really not normal" - Ex-Blue Jays GM Pat Gillick reflects on his unusual support for World Series hero Willie Aikens during his incarceration
Former Toronto Blue Jays general manager Pat Gillick recently reflected on his continued support of his former player, Willie Aikens, after the latter was convicted of a crime. He was given prison time, having been found guilty of selling drugs to an undercover police officer.
Aikens played for the Toronto Blue Jays while Gillick served as general manager for the club.
In his playing days, Aikens was quite a destructive hitter. In the 1980 World Series, he was playing for the Kansas City Royals and hit two home runs each in games one and four. He was the only player to have homered twice in a game on two separate occasions in a World Series, until Chase Utley matched his feat in 2009.
In an interview with TSN, the ex-Blue Jays GM was asked whether his unwavering support for the incarcerated Aikens was "abnormal," to which an emotional Gillick replied (12:06):
"You know what, I'm really not normal. What I did, I'd do for any individual that needs help and wants to turn their life around."
In his days as the GM of the Phiadelphia Phillies, whenever his team was in town to face the Atlanta Braves, Gillick would make it a point to go visit his former player at the Atlanta prison. He recalled once telling a disheartened Aikens to stay patient.
"He told me one time that he was going to die in prison. I told him to mind his Ps and Qs, there were a lot of people on the outside rooting for him. We talked about baseball."
Willie Aikens also had no possibility of getting out on parole, due to the nature of his sentencing. His only hope was a pardon from President Bill Clinton. Gillick helped Aikens send a letter to the President, but it was ultimately rejected.
However, in 2008, with a change in the drug punishment laws, Aikens was finally a free man at the age of 53.
Since his release, Willy has been vocal in educating young people about the dangers of drugs, and has also returned to baseball. He is now working as a minor league hitting coach for the Kansas City Royals.
He remains thankful to Pat Gillick for offering him a helping hand when he was going through the toughest time of his life (10:26).
"I want to let Mr. Gillick know how much I appreciate our relationship. We stay in different states, haven't seen each other a whole lot. In one of the lowest points in my baseball career, he was the person that came through and rescued me."
Blue Jays beat Angels in opening game of away series
The Toronto Blue Jays beat the Los Angeles Angels in game one of their three-game away series on Monday. The visitors defeated their hosts by 4 runs to 2 at Angel Stadium.
Last night's victory is a much-needed bounce back for the Blue Jays, who came to Los Angeles on the back of two successive losses to the Oakland Athletics.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. kept up his good form as he recorded 2 hits and scored the all-important opening run of the game to give the visitors the lead in the top of the third inning.
For their next game, the Blue Jays will lock horns with the Angels on Tuesday. Fans will hope their team can pick up where they left off in the opening game and secure another victory, clinching the series in the process.