In 1933, Shea tied the American League record for fielding percentage by a catcher (.996), with only 2 errors in 449 total chances.

That season, which he split between the Red Sox and Browns, he reached career bests in games played (110) and hits (81).

She was a player-coach or coach for the Tigers (1939–42, serving on their 1940 American League championship edition), Philadelphia Phillies (1944–45, including his seven-game stint as a player at age 43 in 1944) and Chicago Cubs (1948–49).

He managed the Portland Beavers of the Pacific Coast League (1943), and also spent several years scouting for the Cubs' organization.

He joined the coaching staff of the Sacramento Solons of the PCL in 1951, but was forced to retire due to a chronic liver abscess[2] in his second season there.