Why Chuck Connors of TV’s ‘The Rifleman’ Stopped Playing for the Chicago Cubs

Chuck Connors was larger than life. Everything about him, from his stature to his athletic accomplishments … well, they just seemed pretty darn big. Of course, Chuck is best known as Lucas McCain from the classic TV western television series, The Rifleman, which ran on ABC for five seasons during the late 1950s and early 1960s, but before that he played for both the NBA and MLB!

Kevin Joseph Connors was attending Seton Hall on a sports scholarship when Major League Baseball scouts started taking notice of him. Kevin, who preferred to be called Chuck, was truly gifted. He was one of those guys who, if he wanted to, could play multiple major league sports.