Shanks, a right-handed pitcher, was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays and voted MVP in the MIAA Conference in 1984. He received honorable mention as an All-American. In 1983 and 1984, he was selected to the MIAA Conference First Team as a pitcher and outfielder. In 1984, he was named to the All-Midwest Region First Team as an outfielder, and Second Team as a pitcher. Shanks was awarded a baseball scholarship to UMSL. He was voted captain of his UMSL team in 1984. In November of 1984, he was chosen as the Multiple Sclerosis Amateur Athlete of the Year for Baseball. In 2012, Shanks was inducted into the UMSL Athletic Hall of Fame. From 1976 - 1979, Shanks played for Sumner High. In 1979, he was named Amateur Baseball Player of the Year by the Missouri State High School Activities Association. That year, he pitched two shutouts in the Tournament of Champions. He had 17 strikeouts in one of the games. Shanks began his baseball career in 1970 in the Lou Brock League. He was a pitcher and third baseman. He played in the Mathews-Dickey League from 1971 to 1978 in the Central Missouri Baseball Association to 1978. He appeared in the all-star game every year. He was a pitcher, third baseman, and catcher for the Red Sox from 1971 - 1975. In 1972, he pitched an 11-0 perfect game. He was a pitcher and outfielder for the Pirates in 1976 and 1977. In 1978, he was a pitcher, second baseman, and shortstop for the Scorpions. In 1979, Shanks was a pitcher and outfielder for the Sumner-Beaumont American Legion team. Shanks pitched for the Mathews-Dickey Knights in the Tandy League. He was also an outfielder. From 1980 to 1982, he pitched and played outfield for the Emerson Electric Knights. Shanks pitched for the Sotolar Pointers in 1983 and 1984. He was also an outfielder and infielder for the Pointers. Shanks coached many teams including the Mathews-Dickey select RBI League team. In 2002, his team won the Midwest Region championship, and took fifth place in the RBI National World Series at Walt Disney World. Shanks is presently the pitching coach of the St. Louis Bandits amateur baseball team.