The Rifleman
Apr 10, 2020 | Baseball
On what would be Chuck Connors' 99th birthday, we take a look at how he became a staple at Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park.
Every strikeout thrown by Texas A&M pitchers on the Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park mound is greeted by the sound of approximately 12 rifle shots (the exact number is debated by 'The Rifleman' fans to this day). Then a strapping man gives his modified Winchester Model 1892 a twirl, reaches into his chest shirt pocket for a reload cartridge, and then gives the camera a steely glance.
“Hearing that sound and Section 203 behind me after an inning-ending strikeout definitely ‘makes me feel so good.’” Texas A&M sophomore pitcher Chris Weber said. “There’s something extraordinary about the Olsen Field traditions we have that makes everything a bit more special.”
On what would be the 99th birthday of actor Chuck Connors (April 10, 1921), we take a look at how 'The Rifleman' became woven into the tapestry of Texas A&M Baseball.
It's a clip that was brought to College Station in the early 1980s by Derrick Grubbs, the former public address announcer at Olsen Field and a 1981 Texas A&M graduate.
"I always liked the show and it was one of my dad's favorites, too," Grubbs said. "I thought it was perfect for baseball."
The iconic clip was nearly relegated to a minor role, but fate stepped in.
"I was originally going to use it when an Aggie catcher threw out a base stealer," Grubbs said. "But when the first game of the season came around, I decided to play it after the first strikeout and it's been played ever since. I think it really worked a lot better after strikeouts than it would have for throwing out runners."
On a good year, the clip will be played well over 400 times. As it evolved, it's been known to have psychological effect.
"I've been on both sides of the mountain," head coach Rob Childress said. "Certainly, the eight years I came here with the University of Nebraska I hated it. I hated everything about it. If it gets going a few times in a row, it can become intimidating. You knew it wasn't a good thing when you heard it, especially in a clutch situation. The sound could make your heart sink."
No one’s heart sank more than Army earlier this year. On February 21, the Aggies set a school-record with 22 strikeouts, including 14 by Asa Lacy and three each by Mason Ornelas and Chris Weber.
“Once Asa got on a roll and the crowd got behind him to start the game, there was no doubt that each guy that came after would have all the confidence in the world,” Weber said. “The whole atmosphere at Blue Bell Park from the Rifleman and from the crowd helped contribute to those 22 strikeouts.”
Another special day came on April 3, 1993. On that day, Jeff Granger set a Southwest Conference single-game strikeout record when he struck out 21 Lubbock Christian batters.
"It played 21 times that day," former Aggie head coach Mark Johnson said. "I never really thought about whether or not it built up any momentum, but I imagine it had to have helped get the crowd into it that evening. That was the biggest part of it early on. I liked to do things very conservative and D.D. (Grubbs) was pretty liberal with what he wanted to do. I didn't want to do anything that would put down the other team. I think it is something good to get the crowd involved."
Now that Coach Childress is on the other side of the mountain, he's developed an appreciation for The Rifleman.
"The last 15 years, it's been a pretty special sound," Childress said. "It's a real special feeling when you hear 'The Rifleman' in a big spot. I would put it at the top of the list as far as things you hear as far as college baseball tradition.
The story of Kevin Joseph (Chuck) Connors is just as intriguing as his presence at Olsen Field.
His frequent appearances on the videoboard at Blue Bell Park aren't Connors' only tie to baseball. The Brooklyn, New York, native enjoyed a Major League career. Signed by the hometown Brooklyn Dodgers in 1940, Connors’ baseball career took a detour for World War II.
As his Army stint was ending, Connors was able to play basketball for the Rochester Royals of the National Basketball League for the 1945-46 season. He helped the squad win the NBL title. The talent accumulated for the squad included future Cleveland Browns Hall of Fame quarterback Otto Graham and longtime New York Knicks head coach Red Holzman. He then became an "Original Celtic," playing for Boston during their first two seasons (1946-47 and 1947-48). He averaged 4.5 points per game and earned the dubious distinction of becoming the first professional player to break a backboard. His shatter job came on a warm-up shot on an improperly assembled hoop.
Connors put his basketball career to rest and turned his attention to baseball. He played one game for the Dodgers in 1949. With his path to playing time blocked by perennial All-Star Gil Hodges, Connors spent a majority of the 1949 campaign and all of the 1950 season in the minors with Montreal. He was traded to the Chicago Cubs in 1951, appearing in 66 games with the Major League squad. He logged 16 runs, five doubles, one triple, two home runs and 18 RBI during the '51 campaign.
He is one of just 12 people to play in the NBA and MLB. The 'Doubled Dozen' also include Danny Ainge, Frank Baumholtz, Gene Conley, Dave Debusschere, Dick Groat, Steven Hamilton, Mark Hendrickson, Cotton Nash, Ron Reed, Dick Ricketts and Howie Schultz.
Connors was also drafted by the Chicago Bears, but never played for the squad.
His baseball career transitioned to Hollywood in 1952, when he spent a season in the Pacific Coast League. The following year he ended his baseball career to pursue acting. In addition to 'The Rifleman', his credits include 'Old Yeller' and 'Soylent Green'.
Although they are not known to have ever attended a game, some members of the Connors family are aware of Chuck's presence at Olsen Field.
"When I was with the Astros in 1993, we were playing the Padres in a nationally televised game on ESPN," Grubbs said. "Mark Portugal was pitching for the 'Stros and racking up a lot of K's. I played The Rifleman there, too. The Astrodome switchboard got a call from California from someone named Michael Connors. I called him back the next day and it turns out it was Chuck Connors' son. Chuck had passed away just a few months before (Nov. 19, 1992) I got the call. He said his dad would have been thrilled two know his TV show theme was being played at ballparks and if he had been alive, he would have called himself.
"I told him about the tradition starting at Texas A&M with the student section cocking rifles and he thought that was one of the coolest things he'd ever heard."
Grubbs, currently the Vice President for Game Entertainment with the Wichita Wind Surge, has made several stops across the country working professional baseball stints in Wichita, El Paso, New Orleans, Charlotte and Round Rock as well as his two seasons with the Astros. He has played 'The Rifleman' clip at all of the stops.
"I used 'The Rifleman' every place I worked in pro baseball," Grubbs said. "I felt like it let me take a piece of A&M with me everywhere I went. I couldn't very well play the War Hymn in New Orleans or Charlotte, but I could play 'The Rifleman'. Everywhere I went there were former players from other SWC or Big 12 schools who would remember the clip from Texas A&M and tell me how much they liked it."
It also comes up in conversation with Coach Johnson when talking about his time as the A&M skipper.
"It's crazy," Johnson said. "I've had people come up to me and say 'I remember "The Rifleman".' And I'm always surprised that is what they remember. I think it's just something people leave the ballpark with because they 'get it'. The might not understand some of the other things that go on at Olsen Field, but they can see the connection. With 'The Rifleman' they see it.
Nobody likes it more than the current Aggies.
“Hearing that clip when we get out of a tough spot definitely gets the momentum back on our side,” Aggie catcher Mikey Hoehner said. “Everyone loves it. Strikeouts are fun… to catch.”
You can say it makes him feel so good.
