Aikens's is a fascinating, and tragic, story.
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The 1983 bust, when he was arrested along with teammates Willie Wilson, Jerry Martin and Vida Blue, was supposed to be just a blip. Aikens didn't know it then, that he'd soon be gone from Kansas City, then fade through two seasons in Toronto. He thought -- even during his time in the Mexican League -- that he would be back.
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Going through Vida Blue's arbitration file following Bowie Kuhn's decision to forbid him from signing with any other team pending investigation of potential misdemeanors was just fascinating stuff.
Mark Liebl, the K.C. fan who supplied cocaine to those guys, recalls how Aikens really wanted the "rocks" of cocaine, and Liebl really liked him because Aikens was "so particular" about obtaining crack. Liebl also testified to the Commissioner how Blue would call him up from the Royals clubhouse just an hour before game time to have Liebl bring some crack or cocaine over for he and Aikens. Or the circumstances surrounding the time Blue supplied cocaine to Milwaukee's bat boy... (!!)
Yep. It "was the '80s" alright.
