Born in Jacobus, Pennsylvania, Shearer was signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers before the 1950 season and had a big year in his first season in pro ball, hitting .317 for the Sheboygan Indians and leading the class D Wisconsin State League with 30 home runs and 137 RBIs. He spent the next eight seasons (1950–57) in the minors, hitting over .300 three different times with double-digit figures in home runs seven of those years. The Dodgers traded Shearer to the Milwaukee Braves for Jim Frey on July 4, 1956.\n', '

Shearer played for the Wichita Braves of the American Association in 1957, hitting .316 with 29 home runs in 138 games. He was given a late-season promotion to the majors, and made his MLB debut on September 18, with the Milwaukee Braves. He started the game in left field for the Braves who were hosting the New York Giants. In his first plate appearance, Shearer struck out against Johnny Antonelli. He walked in his second plate appearance before being lifted for a pinch-hitter in the sixth inning.\n', '

On September 29, on the final day of the 1957 season in front of 45,000 fans at County Stadium, Shearer helped the Milwaukee Braves to a come-from-behind victory. The Braves, who had already clinched the pennant, were trailing the Cincinnati Redlegs 3-2 in bottom of the ninth inning when Joe Adcock led off the inning with a base hit off new Redlegs\' pitcher Bill Kennedy. The Braves brought in Mel Roach to pinch run for Adcock, and Del Crandall to pinch-hit for pitcher Don McMahon. After Crandall flied out to center field, Shearer was brought in to pinch-hit for catcher Carl Sawatski. Shearer came through with a single to right field advancing Roach to third base with the tying run, and becoming the potential winning run on first base.\n', '

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