This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/4/2015
Born October 4, 1895 in Monches, WI, Ralph Shinners attended college at Marquette University. A successful college baseball career, Shinners was signed by the New York Giants and made his major league debut on April 12, 1922. He died on July 23, 1962 and is buried at the Holy Cross Cemetery in Milwaukee, WI.
After college, Shinners played minor league ball from 1920-1921 with Indianapolis of the AAA league. Breaking into the major leagues at age 27 with the New York Giants, Art played in 56 games (1922), 33 games (1923) and 30 games with the Cardinals in his final major league season of 1925. After his major league career, he played for Toledo, Fort Worth, Toronto, Newark, and Buffalo as a minor leaguer.
The following lot consists of 3 scrap books that capture the professional life of Wisconsin Native Ralph Shinners. This archive was once part of the Bob Koehler personal reference library.
Scrap Book 1: The first page is a pasted series of News Paper articles that include the following headlines: “Marquetters Greet Ralph Shinners of Indianapolis Team”, and “Speedy Outfielder of Indians Purchased by the New York Giants” (photo included in his Indianapolis uniform). Telegram from Ralph to his mother sending her a smile. Two page article chronicling the Indianapolis team playing and exhibition game against Babe Ruth of the New York Yankees. Undated, it notes that Shinners batted .500 and caught a long fly hit by Babe Ruth. Several more pages deal with his career in Indianapolis, then a full page with picture of Shinners that reads, “Local Boy Is Purchased By the New York Giants”. Another page dated Monday, April 24th, 1922 shows Shinners in his new Giants uniform. Several other newspaper clippings show him with the New York Giants and a clipping out photo reads, “Ralph Shinners Work Earns Praise From John McGraw”. Book continues on with his career and rounds out with newspaper clippings and news print photos of Shinners with the Fort Worth. Very complete account of his career from 1921-1931.
Scrap Book 2: Mostly clipped from the 1930s, this 40+ page book deals with local high school sports, football, basketball, and baseball, all teams from the Milwaukee metropolitan area.
Scrap Book 3: I purposely saved the best for last! Ralph Shinners must have made quite a favorable impression on his New York Giants teammates, even though he was out of major league baseball since 1925, he was asked to be a member of the 1931 Tour of Japan. Book 3 has several very candid shots of Shinners on the US World Tour to Japan.
Included are:
(2) 4”x6” B&W images of the US All Star team during an official Japanese ceremony.
4”x6” B&W image titled, “French, Cochrane, Cunningham, Captain Ito, O’Doul, Ruel, Frisch, Cochrane, enroute to Japan, Oct. 1931”.
4”x6” B&W image of the players’ wives heading to Japan.
4”x6” B&W image of the team in there official US team jackets. Pictures are: French, Cochrane, O’Doul, Lieb, Grove, Hunter, Cunningham, Oliver, Kelly, Gehrig, Kamm, Maranville, Frisch, Ruel, Simmons, Shinners, Doc Knowles. Notated, “Tokyo, Japan, Nov. 1931”.
4”x6” B&W image of the team in civilian clothes including Ruel, Simmons, Shinners, Maranville, Kelly, Fr. Hurley, Mrs. Kelly, 1st Priest, Mrs. Reardon, Reardon. Notated, “In Japan, Tokyo – 1931”.
(2) 3”x5” B&W image titled “Bass Lake” featuring McGuillen, Shinners, Gearin, Eiter, Stack, Drecks, Maloney, Prosser, McBride. Players in golf attire.
(2) Postcard signed on reverse dated 3/28/30 from New York Giants football player Jack McBride addressed with note to Ralph Shinners.
(2) 2”x5” B&W photo of Clarkes Crab Lake house and Shinners pictured in his Toronto Uniform dated 1929.
3”x5” B&W Mr. & Mrs. Tris Speaker in civilian clothes, Gainesville, FL 1930.
(4) 2”x4” B&W hunting photos of Donahue, Simmons taken in 1928.
4”x6” Bob Cat Killed at Crab Lake
4”x6” Jim Murray and Geo. Earnshaw original photo
1.5”x3” snap shot of Ralph Shinners notated as NY Giants, 1922
(9) 3”x5” snap shots taken at cabin and casual photos
4”x6” Crab Lake 1936 of Deer on vintage car
(5) 4”x6” Snap Shots of Hunters at Crab Lake, circa 1937
This collection remained complete and intact as received by us. No images were removed, keeping the integrity of the accumulation intact. A great insight into the development and career of a Milwaukee legend. (73A0556)