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.

During his prime years 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.

[2] Houck made his major league debut in May 1879 with the Boston Red Caps, splitting his playing time between the outfield and shortstop.

In his rookie season, Houck was among the National League leaders with 35 extra base hits (4th), 24 doubles (5th), 69 runs scored (8th), and nine triples (9th).

Houck was not with the Wolverines at the start of the season, but was credited with filling a hole in the team's defense when he signed with them.

The Detroit Free Press on June 19, 1881, wrote that the team had fully recovered from a severe illness with "Dr. Houck curing them.

[1] Houck spent most of the 1888 season in the minor leagues with the Charleston/New Orleans Pelicans where he compiled a .228 batting average in 52 games.