Charlie O'Connell (roller derby)

Charlie O'Connell (May 7, 1935 – February 9, 2015) was a 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 was most commonly associated with the San Francisco Bay Bombers for most of his career.

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]

References
  1. "HOME". Roller Derby Foundation. Retrieved June 20, 2010.
  2. "Charlie O'Connell: From the 1969 Roller Derby Program Yearbook". television station KTVU. Archived from the original on May 21, 2010. Retrieved June 20, 2010.
  3. "O'Connell Top Star Of Roller Derby". Abilene Reporter-News. February 22, 1970 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  4. "Original HOF members". rollerderbyhalloffame.com. Retrieved June 20, 2010.
  5. Frank Deford (March 3, 1969). "The Roller Derby". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved June 20, 2010. p. 4
  6. Frank Deford (March 3, 1969). "The Roller Derby". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved June 20, 2010. p. 11
  7. Roger Ebert (June 15, 1972). "Derby". rogerebert.com. Retrieved June 20, 2010.
  8. "Local sports digest: Kentucky Derby hopefuls to run at Golden Gate Fields". San Jose Mercury News. February 13, 2015.
  9. Keith Coppage, Roller Derby to RollerJam, p. 123


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