Art Shires
A flamboyant and controversial first baseman for the White Sox in the 1920s, whose brash personality often overshadowed his solid hitting.
1906–1967 (age 61)·American baseball player·Birthday: August 13·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Art Shires burst onto the Chicago baseball scene not just with a bat, but with an outsized persona. In an era of rough-edged athletes, Shires stood out for his self-promotion, dubbing himself "Art the Great" and boasting of his talents. His rookie season in 1928 was impressive, batting .341, but his clashes with management, including a famous fistfight with manager Lena Blackburne, became his legacy. Traded to Washington and then Boston, his production never again matched that first flash of brilliance. Shires's story is a classic baseball tale of unmet potential, where undeniable skill was undercut by a temperament that made him a constant headline and a transient player.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Art was born in 1906, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Art Was Born
The biggest hits of 1906
Art's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1906Born
San Francisco earthquake devastates the city
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1911Started school
Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire kills 146 in New York
President: William Howard Taft
1919Became a teenager
Treaty of Versailles signed; Prohibition ratified
President: Woodrow Wilson
1922Could drive
King Tut's tomb discovered in Egypt
President: Warren G. Harding"April Showers" — Al Jolson
1924Could vote
First Winter Olympics held in Chamonix, France
President: Calvin Coolidge"It Had to Be You" — Isham Jones
1927Turned 21
Lindbergh flies solo across the Atlantic; The Jazz Singer premieres
President: Calvin Coolidge"My Blue Heaven" — Gene Austin
1936Turned 30
Jesse Owens wins four golds at the Berlin Olympics
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"The Way You Look Tonight" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: The Great Ziegfeld
1946Turned 40
United Nations holds its first General Assembly
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $5,150Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Prisoner of Love" — Perry ComoBest Picture: The Best Years of Our Lives
1956Turned 50
Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $10,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Heartbreak Hotel" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: Around the World in 80 Days
1966Turned 60
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
1967Died at 61
Summer of Love in San Francisco; first Super Bowl
Gas: $0.33/galHome: $14,250Min wage: $1.40/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"To Sir, with Love" — LuluBest Picture: In the Heat of the Night
Key Achievements
- Batted a remarkable .341 in 100 games during his rookie season with the 1928 Chicago White Sox.
- Recorded a career-best .992 fielding percentage at first base in the 1929 season.
- Accumulated 287 major league hits and a career .291 batting average over four seasons.
- Played nearly 300 games in the majors for three different American League teams.
Did You Know?
He briefly pursued a career as a professional boxer during the baseball off-seasons.
His nickname was "The Great Shires," a title he enthusiastically promoted himself.
The fistfight with White Sox manager Lena Blackburne led to his suspension and eventual trade.
After baseball, he worked as a bartender and later owned a tavern in Texas.
“They called me Art the Great, and the name fit just fine.”
