Frank Shields

Francis Xavier Alexander Shields Sr. (November 18, 1909 – August 19, 1975) was an American amateur tennis player of the 1920s and 1930s, and an actor known for Hoosier Schoolboy (1937). He was ranked world No. 2 in 1931, and U.S. No. 1 in 1933. Tennis career He was ranked world No. 2 in 1931 by Noel Dickson in the Melbourne Herald, and world No. 5 in 1930 by A. Wallis Myers of The Daily Telegraph. Between 1928 and 1945 he was ranked eight times in the U.S. Top Ten by the USLTA, reaching No. 1 in 1933, and No. 2 in 1930. In January 1928, Shields was runner-up to George Lott in the Canadian Covered Courts Championships at the Montreal Indoor Tennis Club, defeating Canadian No. 1 Dr. Jack Wright in a long five set semifinal. Shields was runner-up in the 1929 Canadian Open Championships at the Toronto Lawn Tennis Club on red clay, losing the final to Dr. Wright, who had earlier beaten John Doeg in the semifinal. Shields lost to Bill Tilden in the third round of the 1929 U.S. National Tennis Championships, but returned the favor the following season, defeating Tilden in the quarterfinals of the 1930 Southampton Invitation.