Career
He played in 1894 for the Chicago Colts, and in 1897 for the Saint Louis Browns, primarily as a second baseman. Houseman was the first Dutch-born player in the major leagues when he made his debut for the Colts in 1894. On December 30, 1903 Houseman and fellow player Charlie Dexter were in a box watching the show at the Iroquois Theatre in Chicago when the Iroquois Theatre fire broke out.
They were credited with breaking down a locked door and rescuing a number of people.