New Film About Seneca Native Willie Aikens

A movie is to be released next month portraying the life of Willie Mays Aikens, who rose from humble beginnings in Seneca to become a 1980 World Series batting star for the Kansas City Royals.

Aikens story is one of redemption, overcoming a drug habit and eventually becoming 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, titled, “The Royal”, is based on the writing of Aikens’ book author Greg Jordan.