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.