Byron Houck | |
---|---|
Pitcher | |
Born: Byron Simon Houck August 28, 1891 Prosper, Minnesota | |
Died: June 17, 1969 Santa Cruz, California | (aged 77)|
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
MLB debut | |
May 15, 1912, for the Philadelphia Athletics | |
Last MLB appearance | |
August 27, 1918, for the St. Louis Browns | |
MLB statistics | |
Win–loss record | 26–24 |
Earned run average | 3.30 |
Strikeouts | 224 |
Teams | |
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Byron Simon Houck (August 28, 1891 – June 17, 1969) was an American professional baseball pitcher and cinematographer. He played in Major League Baseball for the Philadelphia Athletics, Brooklyn Tip-Tops, and St. Louis Browns from 1912 to 1914 and in 1918. After his baseball career, he worked on Buster Keaton's production team as a camera operator.
Houck was born in Prosper, Minnesota. He was the fifth of six children. His family moved to Portland, Oregon, when he was young. [1] He attended Washington High School in Portland, and pitched for the school's baseball team all four years. [2] In his senior year, he was voted president of the athletic association. [3] Houck graduated from high school in 1910 and enrolled at the University of Oregon and played college baseball for the Oregon Ducks. He was a member of Kappa Sigma at Oregon. [4]
Houck signed with the Spokane Indians of the Class B Northwestern League in July 1911. [5] After the season, the Philadelphia Athletics selected Houck in the Rule 5 draft. [6] He made his major league debut with the Athletics in 1912. [7] He pitched to a 8–8 win–loss record with a 2.94 earned run average (ERA). [8] He was a member of the 1913 World Series champions, pitching to a 14–6 record and a 4.14 ERA in 1913, [9] but he did not appear in the series. In 1914, after making three appearances for the Athletics, [10] he was released to the Baltimore Orioles of the International League. Houck refused to report to Baltimore, and jumped to the Brooklyn Tip-Tops of the outlaw Federal League. [11] He signed a three-year contract with Brooklyn [12] paying him $3,500 per season ($106,465 in current dollar terms). [1] He pitched to a 2–6 record with a 3.13 ERA for Brooklyn. [13] In 1915, Brooklyn assigned him to the Colonial League, a minor league affiliated with the Federal League, and he played for the New Haven White Wings and Pawtucket Rovers. [1] Brooklyn gave him his unconditional release after the 1915 season, and Houck accepted a payout of half of his salary for the 1916 season. [12] [14]
In 1916, following the collapse of the Federal League, Houck's rights reverted to the Athletics, [1] [15] and they allowed Houck to become a free agent. [1] He signed with the Portland Beavers of the Pacific Coast League (PCL). [16] He had a 17–19 record and a 3.36 ERA in 1916. [17] Houck returned to Portland in 1917, but struggled at the beginning of the season. [18] He improved to finish the season with a 23–15 record and a 2.21 ERA. [19] After the 1917 season, he was drafted by the St. Louis Browns for the 1918 season. [20] He had a 2–4 record and a 2.39 ERA for the Browns. [21] In February 1919, St. Louis sold Houck to the Vernon Tigers of the PCL. [22] He had a 19–16 record and a 3.88 ERA in 1919. [23] In 1920, Babe Borton, Houck's teammate with Vernon, was caught bribing opponents to throw games. He alleged that the plan was discussed at Louis Anger's house with Houck present. [24] Houck was not punished by the PCL. [1] He finished the 1920 season with a 10–17 record and a 2.62 ERA. [25] Houck played semi-professional baseball in 1921, and briefly returned to the PCL to pitch for Vernon and Portland in 1922. [1] [26] [27]
In 1919, Fatty Arbuckle purchased the Tigers, and he made Anger the team president. Houck's first wife and Anger's wife were sisters. This connection led to Houck working as a camera operator on Buster Keaton's silent films. [1] He worked on the 1924 films Sherlock Jr. [28] and The Navigator, [29] the 1925 film Seven Chances, [30] and the 1926 film The General. [31]
Houck married Kittye Isaacs in September 1913. [1] [32] She died in March 1923. [33] He remarried to Rose Carr in 1927. [1]
Houck died in Santa Cruz, California, on June 17, 1969. [34] He was interred at Rosedale Cemetery in Los Angeles. [35]