Chuck Connors, 6' 5", played pro basketball for the Boston Celtics before turning to baseball. He pinch-hit once for the Brooklyn Dodgers during the 1949 season. The Cubs bought him in 1951 and Chuck Connors, first baseman, hit .238, two homers and 18 RBIs. Connors next landed a small part in a movie with Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn - titled 'Pat & Mike'. Then in 1957, he landed the lead role in the television western - "The Rifleman" which played until 1962. Re-runs of which are being shown now. Chuck Connors has appeared in many movies and dramas since his last major league appearance in 1951. The following from www.basketballhistorian.com * Chuck Connors, 6ft 7inch Forward Boston Celtics - proudly served in the military during World War II. Although Chuck Connors was a starting player on the Boston Celtics he was an inspiring actor, and was always sputing verses from Shakespear. Much of the traveling was done on trains, and so, Chuck Connors had ready audiences. He would stand up and recite 'Casey at the Bat' or the 'Face on the Barrom Floor', etc. Teammate John Simmons recalled later, 'Chuck stood 6ft7inch and had this big booming voice. And everyone would be listening to this big smiling guy.' Chuck Connors played just four games of the 1947-1948 season, then joined the Chiocago Cubs baseball team as a first baseman. The next year or so he got a gig in television where he was a long-time star as 'The Rifleman". |