[2] Lane signed initially with the Boston Braves in 1948, but after two years of Class D ball he was acquired by Washington.
Recalled from the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts in the middle of the 1953 season, Lane made his Major League debut at Griffith Stadium against the Boston Red Sox on July 7 as a starting pitcher, but lost a low-scoring duel to Hal Brown, giving up only one run in eight innings of work.
[3] He started only one other game all season — on September 13 — and again lasted eight innings in a losing effort (this time against the Detroit Tigers).
He made his National League debut September 7 as a relief pitcher and held the St. Louis Cardinals scoreless over two innings.
Lane appeared in three games for Cincinnati in 1954 and eight more in relief at the outset of 1955 before returning to the minor leagues for the remainder of his career.