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Back in 1953, a star receiver named Mac Speedie took the out-and-up route.

Out of Cleveland. Up to Saskatchewan.

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Speedie, who compiled a National Football League-leading 62 catches for the 1952 Cleveland Browns, shocked the football world the following summer by signing with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Such was the abrupt, controversial conclusion of his seven-year stay in Cleveland — a period of excellence that was recognized Wednesday when the posthumous induction of Speedie into the Pro Football Hall of Fame was announced.

Speedie enters the Hall as part of a Centennial Slate that includes 10 seniors — players who had not appeared in a game for at least 25 years.

From the perspective of the Hall, Speedie’s pro football career was spent with Cleveland’s entry in the All-America Football Conference (1946-49) and NFL (1950-52).

But he actually finished his playing days in the Western Interprovincial Football Union, suiting up for the Roughriders in 1953 and 1954 before dressing for one game with the 1955 B.C. Lions, making one reception for 11 yards, and suffering a career-ending knee injury.