Charlie O'Connell (roller derby)
Charlie O'Connell (May 7, 1935 – February 9, 2015) was a New York roller derby skater, considered the premier male star of his sport.[1][2][3] He was inducted into the Roller Derby Hall of Fame in 1967, after his first retirement.[1][4]
A native New Yorker, at 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) and 200 pounds (91 kg), he was one of the larger and speedier players, considered a "prototype pivotman".[5] He made an immediate impact in his 1953 debut season with the New York Chiefs and was named rookie of the year.[2][5] Nicknamed "Mr. Roller Derby", he went on to win the league's Most Valuable Player award eight times.[2][3]
He initially retired in 1967, but soon returned to the sport and played until 1978, before finally hanging up his skates for good.[6] He estimated he had played "well over 3000 games" during his career.[6]
He was one of the focal points of the 1971 documentary film Derby.[7] He died aged 79 on February 9, 2015.[8]
Sporting positions | ||
---|---|---|
Preceded by Ken Monte |
International Roller Derby League Male MVP[9] 1963 |
Succeeded by Bob Hein |
Preceded by Bob Hein |
International Roller Derby League Male MVP joint with Buddy Atkinson Jr., Bob Hein and Bob Woodbury[9] 1965 |
Succeeded by Buddy Atkinson, Jr. |
Preceded by Tony Roman |
International Roller Derby League Male MVP[9] 1970 |
Succeeded by ? |
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "HOME". Roller Derby Foundation. Retrieved June 20, 2010.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Charlie O'Connell: From the 1969 Roller Derby Program Yearbook". television station KTVU. Retrieved June 20, 2010.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "O'Connell Top Star Of Roller Derby". Abilene Reporter-News. February 22, 1970 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Original HOF members". rollerderbyhalloffame.com. Retrieved June 20, 2010.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Frank Deford (March 3, 1969). "The Roller Derby". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved June 20, 2010. p. 4
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Frank Deford (March 3, 1969). "The Roller Derby". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved June 20, 2010. p. 11
- ↑ Roger Ebert (June 15, 1972). "Derby". rogerebert.com. Retrieved June 20, 2010.
- ↑ http://www.mercurynews.com/sports/ci_27527138/local-sports-digest-kentucky-derby-hopefuls-run-at
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Keith Coppage, Roller Derby to RollerJam, p.123
External links
- See photo in Abilene Reporter-News article - via Newspapers.com