Art Houtteman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Art Houtteman |
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Art Houtteman in 1953 with the Detroit Tigers
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| Pitcher | |||
| Born: August 7, 1927 Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
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| Died: May 6, 2003 (aged 75) Rochester Hills, Michigan, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| April 29, 1945, for the Detroit Tigers | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 22, 1957, for the Baltimore Orioles | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Win–loss record | 87–91 | ||
| Earned run average | 4.14 | ||
| Strikeouts | 639 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Arthur Joseph Houtteman (August 7, 1927 – May 6, 2003) was an American pitcher in Major League Baseball. He played for 12 seasons in the American League. Art played for the Detroit Tigers, Cleveland Indians, and Baltimore Orioles.
In his career, Houtteman pitched 1,555 innings. He had a win-loss record of 87 wins and 91 losses. He also completed 78 games and pitched 14 shutouts. His earned run average (ERA) was 4.14.
Art was known for his special pitching style. A scout named Wish Egan signed him in 1945 when he was 17. He joined the Tigers' pitching team during World War II. After playing in both major and minor leagues, he had a serious car accident in 1949.
But Art recovered well from his injuries. He won 15 games that season. The next year, he was chosen for his only All-Star team. He later played for the pennant-winning Cleveland Indians in 1954. After his baseball career, he became a sales executive. Art Houtteman passed away in 2003 at age 75.
Contents
Early Life and Baseball Dreams
Art Houtteman was born in Detroit, Michigan, on August 7, 1927. His family had come from Belgium. Art was the only son. His father wanted him to become a major league player by the time he was 17.
Art played baseball at Detroit Catholic Central High School. His pitching skills caught the eye of baseball scout Wish Egan. Egan thought Art had a "perfect pitching motion." The Detroit Tigers signed Houtteman in late 1944. He started practicing with the Tigers in spring training in 1945.
He spent most of 1945 playing for the Buffalo Bisons. This was Detroit's top minor league team. But the Tigers' main pitching team had many injuries. So, 17-year-old Houtteman was called up to the big leagues. This is how his Major League career began.
Playing for the Detroit Tigers
Starting His Major League Journey
Art Houtteman made his first Major League game on April 29, 1945. He was only 17 years old. This made him the youngest player in the American League that year. He was later sent back to the Buffalo Bisons. There, he pitched seven no-hit innings in one game.
In 1946, Art was still the youngest player in the Major Leagues. He played only one game for the Tigers that year. He spent most of 1946 in the minor leagues. He finished with 16 wins and 13 losses. He also led the league in strikeouts. Many managers thought he was the best young pitcher.
Art returned to the Tigers in July 1947. He pitched a great game against the Washington Senators. He allowed only five hits and no runs. The Tigers' general manager, Billy Evans, was very impressed. He said Art was "really a big leaguer." Art finished the 1947 season with 7 wins and 2 losses. He had a 3.42 ERA and two shutouts.
Facing "Hard Luck"
The 1948 season started tough for Art. He lost his first eight games. Many of these losses were by just one run. He also didn't get much help from his team's hitting. Because of this, the media called him "Hard Luck Houtteman."
His teammates believed it was bad luck, not bad pitching. They still saw him as a promising player. Even though he lost 16 games that year, his ERA was close to the league average.
In March 1949, Art had a very serious car accident in Florida. He crashed into a fruit truck. At first, doctors were very worried about him. But he recovered quickly. Within two weeks, the Tigers thought he could play again by June. This accident made other teams, like the Cleveland Indians, ban their players from driving.
Becoming an All-Star Ace
Art returned to pitching for the Tigers on May 21, 1949. He lost his first three games back. But then his performance got much better. He started winning more games. He even beat the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox multiple times. He finished the 1949 season with 15 wins and 10 losses. He had a 3.71 ERA and two shutouts. The Philadelphia Sports Writers Association honored him for his comeback.
The 1950 season was a great one for Art. He pitched all of spring training without walking a single batter. By June 28, 1950, he had won 10 games. He was one of the first pitchers to reach 10 wins that season. Art felt that his luck had finally changed.
In July, Art was chosen for the All-Star team. He pitched three innings in the game. He gave up one run on a home run. Art continued his success in the second half of the season. On August 19, he pitched a one-hitter. He almost pitched a perfect game!
Art finished the 1950 season with 19 wins and 12 losses. He led the league with four shutouts. He was also among the top pitchers in innings pitched and complete games. His ERA was 3.54, which was fifth best in the American League. On October 2, 1950, Art married Shelagh Marie Kelly.
Military Service and Return
Before the 1951 season, Art Houtteman joined the United States Army. He had a knee injury from high school. This injury usually meant he couldn't be drafted. But he felt he was drafted because he was a famous athlete.
In the Army, the loud noise of big guns caused him severe headaches. Doctors thought this was from his earlier skull fracture. Because of these health issues, Art was discharged from the Army in September 1951. He said he spent most of his time in the Army hospital.
When Art returned to the Tigers for the 1952 season, his manager, Red Rolfe, was excited. He thought Art could be their best pitcher. Art felt good and hoped to do even better than in 1950. He even chose his old uniform number, 21, for good luck.
Sadly, "Hard Luck Houtteman" seemed to return in 1952. Just before the season, Art faced a personal tragedy. His young daughter died in a car accident. On April 26, Art almost pitched a no-hitter against the Cleveland Indians. With two outs in the ninth inning, he gave up a single. He finished the year with 8 wins and 20 losses. This led to talks about him being traded.
Art spent the offseason selling cars. During the 1953 season, there were rumors of trades. The Yankees were interested in him. Art was used as both a starter and a reliever. But he struggled, losing six games in a row.
Playing for the Cleveland Indians
On June 15, 1953, the Tigers traded Art Houtteman to the Cleveland Indians. Art was happy about the trade. He felt the fans in Detroit were against him. He said he "couldn't wait to peel off his uniform" after games with the Tigers.
In Cleveland, pitching coach Mel Harder helped Art improve. Art became a starter for the Indians. He finished the 1953 season with 7 wins and 7 losses. He had six complete games and one shutout.
The 1954 season was another good one for Art. His second daughter, Hollis Ann, was born in February. His pitching continued to get better. The Indians often used him in games that went into extra innings. Art finished the season with a career-high 11 complete games. He had 15 wins and 7 losses, with a 3.35 ERA.
The Indians played in the 1954 World Series. Art pitched two innings in Game 3 against the New York Giants. He allowed one run.
In the 1955 season, Art was planned to be a main starter. But he lost his starting spot to a new player, Herb Score. Art became a "spot starter," pitching sometimes. He finished the season with 10 wins and 6 losses. On December 29, 1955, his first son, Jeff, was born. An National Football League player, Leon Hart, even helped deliver the baby!
Art became a relief pitcher in the 1956 season. Other teams, like the Chicago White Sox, wanted to trade for him. He made 22 appearances that year. He had 2 wins and 2 losses. But his ERA was high at 6.56.
By the 1957 season, there was tension. Art felt he was not favored by the team's management. He was again part of trade rumors. Art pitched only four innings in three games for the Indians in 1957.
Baltimore Orioles and Minor Leagues
Art Houtteman was put on the trade list before the 1957 season. On May 20, he was sold to the Baltimore Orioles. He made four relief appearances for the Orioles. Then, he was sent to the Vancouver Mounties in the Pacific Coast League. He was called back up to the Orioles on September 22. This was his last Major League game. He pitched 2 and 1/3 innings, allowing three runs.
Just before the 1958 season, the Orioles released Art. This ended his Major League career. He then signed with the Charleston Senators, a minor league team for the Tigers. He had a 3.25 ERA and a 7–9 record. In 1959, the Kansas City Athletics gave him a tryout. But they wanted younger pitchers.
Art then signed with the Portland Beavers in the Pacific Coast League. He had 6 wins and 9 losses with a 3.69 ERA. After the season, his third daughter, Sharon, was born. Art Houtteman announced his retirement from baseball at age 32.
Later Life
After retiring from baseball, Art Houtteman stayed involved in sports. He worked as a sports reporter for a TV station in Detroit for a while. Later, he became a sales executive at Paragon Steel in Detroit. He worked there until he retired.
Art was at the last game ever played at Tiger Stadium in 1999. He passed away on May 6, 2003, at his home in Rochester Hills, Michigan. He was 75 years old. He died from what seemed to be a heart attack.
Images for kids
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Houtteman on the cover of Baseball Digest
