Dallas transferred the rights to Les Richter to Los Angeles…
Dallas transferred the rights to Les Richter to Los Angeles on June 12, 1952, for 11 Rams players in what the Pro Football Hall of Fame describes as the biggest NFL trade to that point. Richter served two years in the Army before joining the Rams, then made eight consecutive Pro Bowls and never missed a game. Most of Dallas' 11-player haul provided little lasting value.
Kansas City Chiefs Received
- player Dick Hoerner
- player Tom Keane
- player Joe Reid
- player Jack Halliday
- player George Sims / Gabby Sims
- player Aubrey Phillips / Red Phillips (a)
- player Victor Vasicek / Vic Vasicek
- player Billy Baggett
- player Dick McKissick
- player Dick Wilkins
- player Dave Anderson
Los Angeles Rams Received
- player Les Richter
Trade Analysis
What the Trade Did
On June 12, 1952, Los Angeles sent 11 players to the Dallas Texans for the rights to Les Richter. The Pro Football Hall of Fame identifies it as the largest trade in league history to that point. Dallas received Dick Hoerner, Tom Keane and nine other players, while the Rams acquired a player who had been drafted second overall by the New York Yanks before that franchise folded.
Why the Rams Accepted the Delay
Richter was not immediately available. He served two years in the Army during the Korean War and did not debut for Los Angeles until 1954. The wait proved worthwhile. He was selected to eight consecutive Pro Bowls, became a versatile linebacker, center and placekicker, and never missed a game during his nine-season Rams career. He ultimately reached the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
How the Eleven-Player Return Aged
The enormous head count makes Dallas' side look better at first glance than it became in practice. Hall of Fame research notes that several of the 11 never played for the Texans and many had very short remaining careers. Keane was the notable exception, continuing as a productive defensive back, but the expansion Texans themselves folded after one season and could not turn the volume of players into lasting franchise value.
Final Verdict
Los Angeles retains an A and the clear win. Giving up 11 players was extraordinary, but Richter became an elite, durable cornerstone for nearly a decade. Dallas receives D+ because the package included some real veterans, especially Keane, yet the collective realized value fell far short of the Hall of Fame player the Texans surrendered.