By Spenser Hickey
Managing Editor
The Ohio Wesleyan community lost Athletics Hall of Famer Ryan Missler â98 on August 9 following a car accident on Route 33 in Dublin, Ohio. He was 38.
Missler started on Ohio Wesleyanâs baseball team for three years and after graduation played two years in the independent minor leagues; he joined the Hall of Fame in 2008.
“He was one of the most outstanding baseball players that Ohio Wesleyan ever had,â said Roger Ingles, current Athletic Director and Misslerâs coach on the baseball team.
“…He was just an outstanding player, outstanding person and everybody looked up to him. He was a leader on and off the field.”
Jodi Andes, Dublin Police Department spokeswoman, said the accident remains under investigation but did not have further details at this time.
In his time at OWU, Missler played third base and shortstop, earning the Player of the Year award from the North Coast Athletic Conference his senior year. He led the NCAC in batting average at .485, fourth best in OWU history, and set the OWU record for most home runs in a season.
That year, the Bishops defeated Ohio Stateâs baseball team 10-7 in the Buckeyesâ first home game; Missler had two home runs in the game.
âHe was easily the best player on the field and they (Ohio State) were Big Ten champs that year so I think that tells you what kind of caliber of player he was,â Ingles said.
In his junior year, he was named to the All-NCAC first team, having been a nominee for that selection sophomore year, tying for fourth on OWUâs list of most runs batted in during a season.
His three year career batting average of .400 was fifth-highest in OWU history and he tied the  home run record at 27.
Following his time in the minor leagues, Missler worked alongside his brother Aaron as vice presidents of the family business, Misslerâs Irrigation, based out of Dublin; their father Mike is president.
âAfter he graduated, he played in our golf outing every single year, he and his father and brother,â Ingles said.
âTheir irrigation company did a lot of work on campus…he’s one of those guys that you get as a coach that’s kind of a once in a lifetime person. He’s just going to be missed by a lot of people, our thoughts are with his family.â
Rip Ryan Missler, sad to see you go!
You were the best sibling anyone could have and it was an honor to have had you as my brother for almost 39 years I loved and cherished every second of my senior season playing along side of you on the baseball team. You made plays that still amaze me you made. It was a privilege to watch you grow in to player that you did and the man you have become. I loved working with you and its going to be a very hard loss to get over you. But don’t worry Trent and Caden will know their father and know how caring and loving a human being, brother, son, and most especially father he was. I hope it’s all a dream and will wake up tomorrow and be able to have another one of our brotherly squabbles. You are sorely missed already RIP brother
You and your family are so in our prayers. We always enjoyed talking to both you and Ryan when you came each yr. to check our system. Bonnie and Chuck Gilligan
Saddened and stunned by this tragic loss. We’ve lost one of the good ones way, way too soon. The Missler family is in our thoughts and prayers. Ellen (Cammock) ’96 and Jay ’94 Mrukowski
God bless the entire Missler Family! Jon and I will miss our travel companion, our concert goer, our pumpkin beer drinking partner, but mostly just your laughter, your passion, and your smile. We love you, Ryan
Jon Way (’95) and Dena Greene Way (’96)