Editing Chuck Connors (section)

===Professional basketball (1946–1948)===
Following his [[military discharge]] in 1946, the {{height|ft=6|in=5}} Connors joined the Rochester Royals (now the [[Sacramento Kings]]) of the National Basketball League for their [[1945–46 Rochester Royals season|1945–1946]] championship season. For the 1946–1947 season he joined the newly formed [[Boston Celtics]] of the [[National Basketball Association|Basketball Association of America]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/connoch01.html|title=Chuck Connors Stats - Basketball-Reference.com|website=Basketball-Reference.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/connoch01/gamelog/1947/|title=Chuck Connors 1946-47 Game Log - Basketball-Reference.com|website=Basketball-Reference.com}}</ref> During his tenure with the Celtics in [[1946–47 Boston Celtics season|1946]], Connors became the first professional basketball player to [[Backboard shattering|break a backboard]]. He did so during pre-game practice before the Celtics' first home game of their inaugural season with a shot and not a [[slam dunk]], which is what typically breaks a backboard in modern basketball.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Football |first=Billy |title=Backboard Shattering Dunks: Changing The Game |url=https://www.barstoolsports.com/podcast/3371084/backboard-shattering-dunks-changing-the-game |access-date=May 2, 2022 |website=www.barstoolsports.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=75 Moments in Boston Celtics History |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/celtics/75-moments-boston-celtics-history |access-date=May 2, 2022 |website=NBC Sports Boston |date=March 10, 2022 |language=en}}</ref> He played 53 games for Boston before leaving the team early in the 1947–48 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/BOS/1947.html|title=1946-47 Boston Celtics Roster and Stats - Basketball-Reference.com|website=Basketball-Reference.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/connoch01/gamelog/1948|title=Chuck Connors 1947–48 Game Log - Basketball-Reference.com|website=Basketball-Reference.com}}</ref>

Connors is one of 13 athletes to have played in both the [[National Basketball Association]] and [[Major League Baseball]]. The 12 others: [[Danny Ainge]],  [[Frank Baumholtz]], [[Hank Biasatti]], [[Gene Conley]], [[Dave DeBusschere]], [[Dick Groat]], [[Steve Hamilton (sportsman, born 1934)|Steve Hamilton]], [[Mark Hendrickson]], [[Cotton Nash]], [[Ron Reed]], [[Dick Ricketts]], and [[Howie Schultz]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/legendary/baseball_and_basketball_players.shtml|title = Baseball (MLB) and Basketball (NBA) Players &#124; Baseball Almanac}}</ref>

Connors attended spring training in 1948 with [[Major League Baseball]]'s [[Brooklyn Dodgers]] but did not make the squad.<ref name="baseball-reference.com"/> He played two seasons for the Dodgers' AAA team, the [[Montreal Royals]], before playing one game with the Dodgers in 1949.<ref name="baseball-reference.com"/> After two more seasons with Montreal, Connors joined the [[Chicago Cubs]] in 1951, playing in 66 games as a first baseman and occasional [[pinch hitter]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/C/Pconnc101.htm|title=Chuck Connors's career page at|publisher=Retrosheet.org|access-date=November 4, 2013}}</ref> In 1952, he was sent to the minor leagues again to play for the Cubs' top farm team, the [[Los Angeles Angels (PCL)|Los Angeles Angels]].<ref name="baseball-reference.com"/>