Shires broke into the majors on August 20, 1928 with
three singles and a triple off
Red Ruffing. Cocky and brash, he embodied the Jazz Age twenties. Appointed team captain
in 1929, Shires became involved in fist fights with manager Lena Blackburne on two
occasions that season, once after refusing to discard a red felt hat which he wore
to the plate during batting practice, and once when discovered drinking bootleg whiskey
in his Philadelphia hotel room. During that first winter of the Depression, Shires
arranged a number of professional boxing matches for himself, and he won all but
his contest against George Trafton, center for the Chicago Bears. His challenge of
crosstown rival Hack Wilson and fears that Shires might become involved with gamblers
led Commissioner Landis to intervene in Shires's boxing career, and Shires retired
from the ring. After demanding a $25,000 contract for the 1930 season, Shires was
traded to Washington on June 16 and was out of baseball by 1932.
(CR)
FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY
»August 20, 1928:
Art Shires of the White Sox strokes four hits, including a triple, in his major-league debut.
»January 20, 1930: Commissioner Landis bans boxing for all players in baseball following the brief boxing career of White Sox 1B Art Shires. His challenge to Hack Wilson purportedly prompts the ban. Shires fought several suspected bouts that resulted in his being suspended by the boxing commissions of 32 states but loses a desultory 5-rounder to Chicago Bears center George (The Brute) Trafton. Shires did win a punch out with Sox manager Lena Blackburne and two hotel detectives late last season.
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