Lefty Houtz was born in Connersville, Indiana. He started his professional baseball career in 1899 with the Texas League\'s Galveston Sand Crabs and made an immediate impact. In 78 games that year, he batted .395 and slugged .673 with 17 home runs. He led the league in triples, home runs, hits, total bases, and slugging percentage.\n', '

Houtz was then acquired by the Cincinnati Reds, and he made his major league debut on July 23. Sporting Life later wrote of that day:\n', '

Houtz played five games for the Reds from July 23 to July 26. He went 4 for 17 at the plate with 4 walks, for a .381 on-base percentage. He finished out the season with St. Paul of the Western League. On October 7, Sporting Life reported that Houtz ("the Texas League wonder") had been released outright from Cincinnati. He then played for two teams in 1900 and batted just .220.\n', '

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