Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-01
FIVE CLUBS WANT
TANNED WHATAMAN'
@outs 1876, Fields SnappHy
for MilWaukee-Chicaqo
Fans Honor Him.
BY FRANCIS J. POWERS.

~HCAGO, August IA good
4 man doesn't stay down
~ long. Not when the man
Is Arthur Shires. Batting
.S65 for the Milwaukee club of
the American Association, fielding
well and hustling every minute of
every game, Shires Is on his way
back to the majors. Five big
league clubs are interested in Sc
curing his services, and at least
9 or 10 could use him TO distinct
advantage.
There Is nothing truculent or svash-
buckling about the Shires who is play
ing f1rst base for Milwaukee. No longer
does he glory In such pseudonyms N
"Whataman" or the Great Shires."
Around Milwaukee, so it is told. he ID
known as the Silent Shires."
Arthur has learned that not all pub
licity is good publicity. He Is coming
back to the majors on q reputat ton for
base hits and serious application to bust
ness rather than as q clown. He has
not lost all of his color He still is one
Of the best crowd magnets the American
ASsocia ton has had in years. The fans
around the league delight in putting the
spurs to the big Texan and he responds
but always within reason.
That Shires was not without his fol-
lowing during his stormy days as q
member of the Chicago White sox is
evidenced by tribute that will be paid
him today. A special train will carry a
large party of Chicago fans to Mil
waukee for the observance of a Chicago
"Shires day. Not often have fans from
a major league city gone TO a minor
league town to do honor 10 4 base ball
player.
Shires predicted a quick comeback to
the majors when Washington sold him
down the river TO Milwaukee. Admit
ting his own mistakes, and they were
numerous, Shires never for a moment
lost faith in his own ability to play
major league ball 1t took him some
weeks to adjust himself to the task OF
beating his way back to the big show,
but once en- the read he wasted no time
making foolish gestures. The club that
purchases Shires from Milwaukee will
acquire a hustling, hard working and
hard hitting player.
ShireS was the victim of circum-
stances and environments during his
brief but stormy career with Chicago
and washington. A manager like Con-
ME Mack, Wilbert Robinson or Jchn
McGrsw likely would have experienced
little trouble with him when he came
out of the Texas League. He started
on the wrong foot with Chicago and re-
ceived little real assistance in finding
the right road.
The young Texan has been among the
leading batters of the association since
the season opened. At present he has
an accumulation of % doubles, triples
and home runs. He has been a con-
sistent run maker for the Brewers and
his fielding has shown great improve
ment. Milwaukee has been drawing fine
crowds throughout the season and Shires
has not been the least of the factors
that pulled fans through the turnstiles
Shires is eager to get back into the
majors. He likes the big parks and the
big crowds. He is essentially show
man and major league base ball needs
all the color it can secure. When he
gets back, ShireS will be a ball player
and not a fighter or headline hunter.
The fellow deserves much credit for his
own reformation.