Sadie Houck

Sargent Perry "Sadie" Houck (March 1856 – May 26, 1919) was a professional baseball player from 1879 to 1888. He played eight seasons of Major League Baseball, principally as a shortstop, for the Boston Red Caps, Providence Grays, Detroit Wolverines, Philadelphia Athletics, Baltimore Orioles, Washington Nationals, and New York Metropolitans.

Houck was considered a solid defensive shortstop. During his prime years from of 1881, 1883 and 1884, he led either the National League or the American Association in assists (1883, 1884), putouts (1883), double plays (1881, 1883), and fielding percentage (1884) by a shortstop.

Houck had a career batting average of .250 and ranked fourth in the National League with 35 extra base hits as a rookie in 1879. He was added to the National League'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.