Baseball career: Acquired by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2005 draft as a catcher out of McLeansville (N.C.) High School. Played 2005 and 2006 seasons at Missoula in the Pioneer (rookie) League, hitting .182 and .200, respectively, plus .143 in 10 games with Yakima in 2006. Batted .227 last year at Missoula while catching and playing other infield positions. Converted to knuckleball pitcher this season.
Last season, Summers won a minorleaguebaseball.com contest for having the greatest name among non-big leaguers. He won over RowdyH Hardy, Henry Henry and Noochie Varner.
"Every male in my family has a first name that starts with H," Summers said. "I guess they were running out of possibilities, so I was named Houston."
NOTED KNUCKLEBALLERS
Lew "Hicks" Moren of the 1906 Philadelphia Phillies was credited with inventing the pitch, although Eddie Cicotte of the infamous Chicago team involved in the Black Sox scandal was another early knuckleballer.
More recent pitchers who enjoyed substantial success with the knuckler include Hoyt Wilhelm, Phil Niekro and Jesse Haines -- all of whom have been inducted to the Hall of Fame -- plus Joe Niekro, Charlie Hough, Dave Jolly, Ben Flowers, Wilbur Wood, Tom Candiotti, Bob Purkey, Steve Sparks and Tim Wakefield.
NOTED KNUCKLEBALL OBSERVATIONS
"I never worry about it. I just take my three swings and go sit on the bench. I'm afraid if I ever think about hitting it, I'll mess my swing up for life." -- All-Star first baseman Dick Allen.
"There are two theories on hitting a knuckleball. Unfortunately, neither of them works." -- famed hitting coach Charlie Lau.
"I always thought the knuckleball was the easiest pitch to catch. Wait till it stops rolling, then go to the backstop and pick it up." -- Broadcaster and former catcer Bob Uecker.
"Hey, that got here pretty quick compared with what he's been throwing." -- Northwest League umpire Matt Benham, on a comment made by a Salem-Keizer player who was batting against Yakima's Houston Summers after Summers had thrown a low-80s fastball.
"Knuckleballs suck." -- Geno Petralli, after giving up four passed balls in one inning.
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