John Houseman

John Franklin Houseman

• Bats Unknown, Throws Unknown
• Height 5' 10", Weight 160 lb.

• Debut September 11, 1894
• Final Game October 3, 1897
• Born January 10, 1870 in Netherlands
• Died November 4, 1922 in Chicago, IL USA

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Biographical Information

John Houseman, the second major league player born in the Netherlands, was an all-purpose backup for the St. Louis Browns in 1897, a team that went 29-102. Houseman played 41 games at second base, 5 at shortstop, 3 at third base, 19 in right field, 7 in center field, and 7 in left field.

The Baseball Rookies Encyclopedia says that on July 30, 1897, he went 4-for-4 and also partcipated in a triple play.

He also played in the minors between 1891 and 1899.

Iroquois Theatre fire

On December 30, 1903, Houseman and Charlie Dexter were attending a show at the Iroquois Theatre in Chicago, IL when a light malfunctioned and a curtain caught on fire, causing the whole place to go up in flames. Dexter and Houseman helped to break a lock on a door and helped a good number of people escape. The fire was the most fatal event in American history to occur in one building before the attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. and through 2024, remains the worst theater fire in the country, claiming the lives of 602 people.

Related Sites

• Baseball History Daily story involving John Houseman
• Find-A-Grave Memorial for John Houseman