As I remember it Willie Horton was jailed and paid his debt to society. He turned out to be a real man.
Wrong Willie Horton.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willie_Horton_%28baseball%29#Early_years
Willie Wattison Horton (born October 18, 1942 in Arno, Virginia) is a former left fielder and designated hitter in Major League Baseball who played for six American League teams, primarily the Detroit Tigers. He hit 20 or more home runs seven times, and his 325 career home runs ranked sixth among AL right-handed hitters when he retired. He enjoyed his best season in 1968 with the world champion Tigers, finishing second in the AL with 36 homers, a .543 slugging average and 278 total bases. In the later years of his career, he was twice named the AL’s top designated hitter.
Which Willie Horton listed here are you referring too? Neither one fits your recollection...
Are you thinking of Gates Brown, iirc? There was a Tigers centerfielder who got out of prison and then made the majors—Brown? Might have played for the ChiSox, too. Or someone else? I’m a National League fan, so I’m a bit fuzzy on it.