Minor leagues Shorten began playing professional baseball in August 1911 with his hometown Scranton baseball team in the
New York State League. He next played for the Worcester Busters in the
New England League from 1912 to 1914, compiling batting averages of .335 in 1913 and .345 in 1914. He spent most of the 1915 season with the
Providence Grays of the
International League. He compiled a .322 batting average in a career-high 615 at bats with Providence. Shorten appeared in two games in the 1916 World Series for the Red Sox, and collected four hits and two RBIs in seven at-bats for a .571 batting average. He was also caught stealing twice in the series.
Detroit Tigers On January 17, 1919, Shorten was traded by the Red Sox with
Eddie Ainsmith and
Slim Love to the
Detroit Tigers in exchange for
Ossie Vitt. Shorten was one of four Detroit outfielders to bat above .300 in 1919 – Shorten at .315 in 95 games,
Ty Cobb at .384 in 124 games,
Bobby Veach at .355 in 139 games, and
Ira Flagstead at .331 in 97 games. Shorten remained with the Tigers for two more years, compiling batting averages of .288 in 1920 and .272 in 1921. He appeared in 41 games for the 1924 Reds, mostly as a pinch hitter, and compiled a .275 batting average. ==Later years==