Chuck Connors Essentials Positions: Bats: L Throws: L Height: 77 Weight: 190 Born: Sunday, April 10, 1921 in Brooklyn, NY USA Died: 11 10 1992 in Los Angeles, CA USA Debut: 5/1/1949 Last Game: 9/30/1951 Full Name: Kevin Joseph Aloysius Connors
1951 – Former Chicago Cubs first baseman and future star of the TV series The Rifleman Chuck Connors becomes the first player to refuse to participate in the major league draft. Currently the 1B for the Los Angeles Angels of the Pacific Coast League, Connors wants to stay in California, instead of going to whatever team might draft him for the major leagues. The PCL views his refusal in a positive manner, allowing them to ask for higher prices for minor league players than what the major leagues usually offers.
On April 23, 1948, Chuck Connors makes his regular season debut with the Montreal Royals in their season opener in Newark it was less than glorious: he committed three errors and did not get any hits. Ultimately, he struck out in his professional sports career and shifted to acting. Westerns like Gunsmoke and Wagon Train…