photo #8760848

I never knew he played for the Celtics. Live and learn. ~~~~~ On November 5, 1946 Chuck Connors of the Boston Celtics becomes the first player in professional basketball to shatter a backboard, which he does during warmups. Unlike most occurrences of a backboard breaking, which usually happens after a dunk, Connors attempted a shot that hit the front of the rim. The glass backboard had been improperly installed and cracked when the hall hit the rim. The game was delayed over an hour. The Celtics would lose to the Chicago Stags 57-55. Connors was one of only 13 athletes in the history of American professional sports to have played in both Major League Baseball (Brooklyn Dodgers 1949, Chicago Cubs, 1951) and the National Basketball Association (Boston Celtics 1946–1948). He was also drafted by Chicago Bears of the NFL but never played for them. Connors would be best remembered as an actor, particularly as the lead role of Lucas McCain on the hit ABC western show, The Rifleman (1958-1963).