Major League Baseball Player. When the first baseman broke in with Chicago White Sox in 1928, he collected three singles and a triple off Boston's Red Ruffing in his debut. At the time, he reportedly had a wardrobe of 50 suits, 100 hats, 40 pairs of spats, a half-dozen tuxedos and attire for golf, riding and yachting. It was after all the Roaring '20s, and he was one of baseball's most colorful characters. He claimed he made more money with his second occupation: boxing. The 6-foot-1, 195-pounder had six bouts, including one with George Trafton of the Chicago Bears. In the ring, he appeared in gaudy trunks and a red robe that had Art The Great in bold white letters on the back. When he challenged the Chicago Cubs' Hack Wilson to fight, commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis ordered him, "Give up baseball or give up boxing." He stuck with baseball. The left-handed batter had some ability. He hit .341 in 33 games in 1928. He followed that with .312 in 100 games in 1929 with 20 doubles, seven triples, three homers and 41 runs batted in. But he and manager Lena Blackburne didn't see eye to eye, so the White Sox shipped him to Washington on June 16, 1930 for pitcher Garland Braxton and catcher Bennie Tate. He became a backup to Senators star first baseman Joe Judge and was used primarily as a pinch hitter. One day he came through with a game-winning single. The next day he again was sent up as a pinch hitter. In those days, the home plate umpire made the announcements of any substitutions. Shires told him, "Never mind my name. Just tell 'em it's the guy who won the game yesterday." During a trip to New York, it was reported, he attended a musical. As he arrived, the rest of the audience began clapping and cheering. So he bowed to the left and to the right. The only problem was that the applause wasn't for him. Douglas Fairbanks Jr. and Joan Crawford also were making way to their seats. He also played for the Boston Braves in 1932. For his four-year career covering 290 games, he hit .291 with 45 doubles, 12 triples, 11 homers and 119 RBIs. He died of lung cancer.