Shires was a colorful personality with a penchant for self-praise, earning himself the nickname "Art The Great".\n', '

Art Shires was born on August 13, 1906 to Josh and Sallee Shires. He was one of nine children; his brother, Leonard, played professional baseball for nine seasons. He attended Waxahachie High School and played for the school\'s baseball team. While still in high school, he first tried out for the Washington Senators, who chose not to sign him, before beginning his professional career in Texas after graduation. Shires began his professional baseball career in 1926 at the age of 19 with the Waco Cubs of the Texas League. In 1928 he had a .387 batting average with 11 home runs in 108 games for Waco and, on July 31, his contract was purchased by the Chicago White Sox.\n', '

Shires made his major league debut with the White Sox on August 20, 1928 at the age of 21, delivering four hits in five at-bats off of future Hall of Fame pitcher, Red Ruffing. He replaced Bud Clancy as the starting first baseman and ended the 1928 season with a .341 average in 33 games that year. On December 28, 1928 a 53-year-old man from Shreveport, Louisiana died from head injuries after being hit by a baseball thrown by Shires on May 20, 1928 in a game between Waco and Shreveport. Shires had allegedly thrown the baseball in anger at a group of disapproving Shreveport fans. On March 27, 1929, Shires was sued by the dead man\'s wife for $25,411. One day after the lawsuit was reported in the papers, Shires was exonerated by a grand jury on March 29, 1929. The suit was dropped after an agreed judgment for $500 on January 11, 1930.\n', '

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