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What: “Night Train Lane”
Author: Mike Burns
Publisher: Eakin Press, Austin, Texas
Price: $16.95
This paperback version of Dick “Night Train” Lane’s biography was published shortly before the Hall of Fame cornerback’s death on Jan. 29 at age 73.
Although the obituaries captured the essence of Lane’s life and his greatness as a football player, for those who seek a more complete look, this readable, 107-page book provides it.
In the foreword, Pat Summerall writes: “I played with him and against him. He was the best I’ve ever seen.”
In the first chapter, Steve Sabol, the president of NFL films, is quoted as saying: “Night Train Lane was way ahead of his time. He had a flair, a sense of bravado. He was the forerunner of Deion Sanders.”
Sabol has Lane on his all-time defensive backfield with Willie Wood, Ronnie Lott and Herb Adderly.
Lane was born on April 16, 1928, in Austin, Texas, and three months later, he was dumped in a trash bin by his mother, a prostitute who would later come back into his life. Lane was found by Ella Lane, who reared him.
Lane played one year of junior college ball, then joined the army at 19. While playing for an army team he was noticed by a scout for the Los Angeles Rams, who offered him a tryout.
He made the team and as a rookie in 1952 set an NFL record with 14 interceptions. The record still stands.
Lane got his nickname from Ram teammate Tom Fears. Lane often stopped by Fears’ room when he was listening to Buddy Morrows’ song “Night Train.”
At first, Lane didn’t like the nickname.
But in 1954, after he was traded to the Chicago Cardinals, he had a big game against the Washington Redskins and their star running back, Charlie “Choo Choo” Justice. A headline in a Chicago newspaper read: “Night Train Derails Choo Choo,” and the nickname stuck for good.
Lane, who went from the Cardinals to the Detroit Lions, retired in 1965.
Lane was living in an assisted-living facility in Austin when he died.
Information: (512) 288-1771 or eakinpub@sig.net.
Larry Stewart