Today’s card of the day is a 1953 Rams Team Issue card of Dick “Night Train” Lane. Lane played two seasons for the Los Angeles Rams, six for the Chicago Cardinals, and six for the Detroit Lions. He was a First-Team All-Pro three times and made the Pro Bowl seven times. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1974.
In 1952, as a rookie with the Rams, Lane intercepted fourteen passes, still the NFL season record. He did that in just a twelve-game season. He also led the league with 298 interception return yards in 1952. Despite this, and despite his leading both categories again in 1954, Lane didn’t appear on a regular issue card until 1957, his sixth season in the league.
Collectors consider Lane’s 1957 Topps card to be his rookie card, so his 1953 Rams Team Issue is a pre-rookie card. Many pre-rookie cards are from team sets like the 1953 Rams set, because they typically go deeper into the team’s roster than regular issue sets. You can see more pre-rookie cards on–you guessed it!–the Gallery’s pre-rookie card page.
Lane finally started getting his due, card-wise, with the Lions in 1961. He appeared regularly on cards after that, until he retired. You can see all of Dick Lane’s football cards–plus a Coke Cap–in the Gallery.
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