Lefty Houtz

Fred Fritz Houtz

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 5' 10", Weight 170 lb.

• Debut July 23, 1899
• Final Game July 26, 1899
• Born September 4, 1875 in Connersville, IN USA
• Died February 15, 1959 in St. Marys, OH USA

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Biographical Information

"Cincinnati's new outfielder, Fred Houtz, comes from the Galveston Club. He led the Texas League in batting, and has a record of 19 home runs in the three months that League lasted. . . He is a butcher by trade." - Sporting Life, July 29, 1899

Fred "Lefty" Houtz played in the majors only in July 1899 but he was still employed in the minors as late as 1911. He did not play on the East Coast, instead playing for teams in Ohio and points westward of that.

Although he was called "Lefty", he was an outfielder, not a pitcher.

"The veteran Jake Stenzel has temporarily been displaced from Cincinnati's centre field by the Texas League wonder, Houtz." - Sporting Life, July 29, 1899 issue, which was wrong to use the word "temporarily" since Stenzel would play no more in the majors

"Algy McBride, of Cincinnati, is back in the game for the first time since last May. . . He has displaced the Texas wonder, Houtz." - Sporting Life, August 5, 1899 issue, which also carried notice that St. Paul claimed to have prior rights to Houtz over those of Cincinnati