Chuck Connors

Chuck Connors was born Kevin Joseph Aloysius Connors on April 10, 1921 in Brooklyn, New York. His parents were Irish immigrants.

He played sports at Adelphi Academy, which was a private high school and earned a scholarship to Seton Hall University.

Chuck left Seton Hall to sign on as a first baseman with the New York Yankee organization. This lasted only one season before the army claimed him. During his tour of duty Chuck moonlighted as a professional basketball player at night. Following his military discharge in 1946, he joined the newly formed Boston Celtics of the Basketball Association of America. Connors left the team for spring training with Major League Baseball's Brooklyn Dodgers.

He played in just one game for the Dodgers. He also played 66 games for the Chicago Cubs. A little known fact is that Chuck Connors was drafted by the Chicago Bears, but never played for the team.

Chuck Connors is one of only twelve athletes in history to have played for both Major League Baseball and in the NBA.

Chuck realized that he would not make a career in professional sports, so he decided to become an actor. In 1953 he starred opposite Burt Lancaster playing a rebellious Marine private in the film South Sea Woman.

He achieved stardom when cast as "Lucas McCain" in the ABC television Western series The Rifleman.

Chuck Connors died in Los Angeles at the age of 71 from lung cancer following a bout of pneumonia.

Carl Erskine's Tales from the Dodgers Dugout: Extra Innings includes many stories about Chuck Connors.