Sargent Perry "Sadie" Houck (March 1856 – May 26, 1919) was a professional

baseball Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each, taking turns batting and fielding. The game occurs over the course of several plays, with each play generally beginning when a player on the fielding tea ...

player from 1879 to 1888. He played eight seasons of

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...

, principally as a

shortstop Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball or softball fielding position between second and third base, which is considered to be among the most demanding defensive positions. Historically the position was assigned to defensive specialists who ...

, for the

Boston Red Caps The Atlanta Braves, a current Major League Baseball franchise, originated in Boston, Massachusetts. This article details the history of the Boston Braves, from 1871 to 1952, after which they moved to Milwaukee, and then to Atlanta. During it ...

Providence Grays The Providence Grays were a Major League Baseball team based in Providence, Rhode Island who played in the National League from until . The Grays played at the Messer Street Grounds in the Olneyville neighborhood. The team won the National Leagu ...

Detroit Wolverines The Detroit Wolverines were a 19th-century Major League Baseball team that played in the National League from 1881 to 1888 in the city of Detroit, Michigan. In total, they won 426 games and lost 437, taking their lone pennant (and winning the pre ...

Philadelphia Athletics The Philadelphia Athletics were a Major League Baseball team that played in Philadelphia from 1901 to 1954, when they moved to Kansas City, Missouri, and became the Kansas City Athletics. Following another move in 1967, the team became the Oaklan ...

Baltimore Orioles The Baltimore Orioles are an American professional baseball team based in Baltimore. The Orioles compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East division. As one of the American L ...

Washington Nationals The Washington Nationals are an American professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C.. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. From 2005 to 2007, the team played in RFK Stadiu ...

, and

New York Metropolitans The Metropolitan Club (New York Metropolitans or the Mets) was a 19th-century professional baseball team that played in New York City from 1880 to 1887. (The ''New York Metropolitan Baseball Club'' was the name chosen in 1961 for the New York ...

. Houck was considered a solid defensive shortstop. During his prime years of 1881, 1883 and 1884, he led either the

National League The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League (NL), is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada, and the world's oldest extant professional team s ...

or the

American Association American Association may refer to: Baseball * American Association (1882–1891), a major league active from 1882 to 1891 * American Association (1902–1997), a minor league active from 1902 to 1962 and 1969 to 1997 * American Association of Profe ...

in assists (1883, 1884),

putout In baseball statistics, a putout (denoted by ''PO'' or ''fly out'' when appropriate) is awarded to a defensive player who (generally while in secure possession of the ball) records an out by one of the following methods: * Tagging a runner wit ...

s (1883),

double play In baseball and softball, a double play (denoted as DP in baseball statistics) is the act of making two outs during the same continuous play. Double plays can occur any time there is at least one baserunner and fewer than two outs. In Major Leag ...

s (1881, 1883), and

fielding percentage In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball. It is calculated by the sum of putouts and assists, div ...

(1884) by a shortstop. Houck had a career

batting average Batting average is a statistic in cricket, baseball, and softball that measures the performance of batters. The development of the baseball statistic was influenced by the cricket statistic. Cricket In cricket, a player's batting average is ...

of .250 and ranked fourth in the

with 35

extra base hit In baseball, an extra-base hit (EB, EBH or XBH), also known as a long hit, is any base hit on which the batter is able to advance past first base without the benefit of a fielder either committing an error or opting to make a throw to retire anot ...

s as a rookie in 1879. He was added to the

's "blacklist" in September 1881, allegedly for being "addicted to drink", and barred from playing for or against any National League team. He was reinstated in 1883.

Family

Houck was born in Washington, D.C., in 1856. He was the son of John W. and Catherine Houck.

Baseball career

Boston and Providence

Houck made his major league debut in May 1879 with the

, splitting his playing time between the outfield and shortstop. In his rookie season, Houck was among the

leaders with 35 extra base hits (4th), 24 doubles (5th), 69 runs scored (8th), and nine triples (9th). Houck began the 1880 season with Boston, but played most of the season with the

. His batting average dropped by 74 points to .201 from 1879 to 1880.

Detroit

In 1881, Houck signed with the

in their first season in the National League. Houck was not with the Wolverines at the start of the season, but was credited with filling a hole in the team's defense when he signed with them. The ''Detroit Free Press'' on June 19, 1881, wrote that the team had fully recovered from a severe illness with "Dr. Houck curing them." Houck raised his batting average to .279 with 16 doubles, 6 triples, a home run, and 36 RBIs in 75 games. Defensively, he led the National League's shortstops with 40 double plays. In late September 1881, Houck was placed on a list of players expelled from the league as part of the league's so-called "blacklist." The ''Detroit Free Press'' reported on Houck's expulsion as follows: "Houck is one of the best short stops in the country and a thorough ball player. Were his habits good, he could command $250 or $300 per month during the season, but he is addicted to drink, and is not, therefore, entirely trustworthy. He was warned of his fate two months ago." As a result of his inclusion on the "blacklist", Houck did not play in organized baseball during the 1882 season. After missing the 1882 season, Houck was removed from the "blacklist" and returned to the Detroit Wolverines. Houck played all 101 games at shortstop for Detroit in 1883. He led the National League that year in assists (328), putouts (162), and double plays (36) by a shortstop. His 12 triples also ranked seventh in the league.

Philadelphia

In November 1883, Detroit sold Houck to the

of the

. He appeared in 108 games for Philadelphia in 1884 and compiled career highs with a .297 batting average and 14 triples. He led the American Association in fielding percentage (.893) and assists (379) by a shortstop. He also ranked among the league leaders with 122 putouts at shortstop (3rd), 140 hits (8th) and 187 total bases (8th).

Later years

In February 1886, the Athletics sold Houck to the

, also in the American Association. He compiled a .192 batting average for Baltimore in 1886. He next played for

in 1887 and compiled a .215 batting average. Houck spent most of the 1888 season in the minor leagues with the Charleston/New Orleans Pelicans where he compiled a .228 batting average in 52 games. Late in the 1888 season, Houck had a final major league stint with the

. He compiled a .152 batting average and appeared in his last minor league game on September 23, 1887, at age 31.

Death

Houck died in Washington, D.C., in 1919 at age 63. After a funeral at Frank Geier's Sons chapel. The sermon was held by long time friend Aidan Howlin. his interment was at Glenwood Cemetery.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Houck, Sadie 1856 births 1919 deaths Baseball players from Washington, D.C. Major League Baseball shortstops 19th-century baseball players Boston Red Caps players Providence Grays players Detroit Wolverines players Philadelphia Athletics (AA) players Baltimore Orioles (AA) players Washington Nationals (1886–1889) players New York Metropolitans players Washington Nationals (minor league) players Albany (minor league baseball) players Lynn Lions players New Orleans Pelicans (baseball) players Charleston Seagulls players