Happy Baseball Birthday...The Rifleman

Today we celebrate the birthday of American Icon and big league ballplayer Chuck Connors.

Kevin Joseph Aloysius "Chuck" Connors was born on April 10th, 1921, in Brooklyn, New York.

The 6' 5'' first baseman attended Adelphia Academy in Brooklyn and went to Seton Hall University.

Chuck Connors was signed as a free agent by his hometown Dodgers in 1940.

Connors baseball career moved to the US Army during World War II, where Connors served until 1946.

A terrific athlete, Connors played basketball with the Boston Celtics briefly in '46, before he left for Spring Training with the Dodgers.

From '46-48 Connors played minor league baseball, then, on May 1st, 1949, Connors made his big league debut with his hometown Dodgers.

Connors played in just that one game with Brooklyn, grounding into a double play in his only at bat.

After spending time on the minors again, Connors was traded from Brooklyn to the Chicago Cubs in late 1950.

In 1951 his final season in the big leagues, Connors played in 66 games as a Cub,

Connors came to the plate 214 times, collected 48 base hits, 5 doubles, 1 triple, and 2 home runs, batting .239 in 201 official at bats.

As a first baseman Connors was pretty good, a..984 fielding %, committing 8 errors in 493 chances.

Chuck Connors left baseball for acting, appearing in films, and lots of TV shows in a 40 year Hollywood career.

His marquee role as rancher Lucas McCain on the TV Western "The Rifleman, made Connors a star.

His son on the show, played by young Johnny Crawford, was a huge baseball fan who would organize ballgames during show breaks.

He hoped the games would encourage the former big leaguer to play baseball with them.

The Rifleman was a huge TV hit, running from 1958-1963.

Chuck Connors was a remarkable man, actor, basketball and baseball player, and was even drafted by the Chicago Bears of the NFL.

Chuck Connors passed away on November 11th, 1992, after a battle with lung cancer.

The Rifleman was 71 at the time of his passing.

Happy Baseball Birthday Chuck Connors!

Play Ball!