Bob Shiring
| Date of birth | 1870 |
|---|---|
| Place of birth | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Date of death | July 23, 1957 (aged 86–87) |
| Place of death | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Career information | |
| Position(s) | Center |
| College | None |
| Career history | |
| As coach | |
| 1907–1909 | Pittsburgh Lyceum |
| As player | |
| c.1894–1900 | Pittsburgh Athletic Club |
| 1901 | Homestead Library & A. C. |
| 1902 | Pittsburgh Stars |
| 1903–1906 | Massillon Tigers |
| 1907 | Massillon All-Stars |
| 1907–1909 | Pittsburgh Lyceum |
| Career highlights and awards | |
|
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Charles Robert "Bob" Shiring (1870 – July 23, 1957) was a professional football player from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania., He began his playing career with the Pittsburgh Athletic Club during the late 1890s and the Homestead Library & Athletic Club in 1901. In 1902, he played for the Pittsburgh Stars of the first National Football League, who ended up winning the league title. Since the Stars consisted of the best professional players from western Pennsylvania at the time, it can be said that Shiring was considered the best at his position, center, in the region (and probably in the country). However Shring is best known for playing for the Massillon Tigers from 1903 until 1907. He finally served from 1907 to 1909 as a player-coach for the Pittsburgh Lyceum, Pittsburgh's last championship professional football team, until the 1970s.
In 1901, Shiring was hired by the Homestead Library & Athletic Club to fill in for the injured Pete Overfield. From the moment he took the field, Shiring never left the Homestead line-up. The following season, he played alongside Christy Mathewson of the New York Baseball Giants for the Pittsburgh Stars of the first National Football League. In 1903, Shiring travelled to Ohio and continued his playing career with the Massillon Tigers of the Ohio League. He played for the Tigers until 1907 and served as a team captain for three of his four seasons in Massillon. A photograph of Shiring, as the Massillon captain, is currently hanging inside of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, located in Canton, Ohio. Massillon residents reportedly attempted to persuade Shiring to move to their town during and after his time Tigers, however he returned to Pennsylvania in 1907. That season, he became the player-coach for the Pittsburgh Lyceum football team. Throughout his career, Shiring refused to wear shoulder pads while playing. When asked why he refused to wear pads, Shiring responded by saying, "because they hinder me getting through the line." His only padding concession was that he would wear shin guards.
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