Baseball has always been Ron Musselman’s first love and it carried him all the way to the sport’s highest stage during a remarkable pitching career.

A Wilmington native, Musselman enjoyed success at every step of his baseball career. It started on the junior level with the Winter Park Optimist All-Star Team, playing on the first team to win the state tournament.

Musselman was an All-Conference hurler for John T. Hoggard High School’s state championship team in 1972 before entering the collegiate ranks with the Louisburg College squad for two teams in 1974-75. In Louisburg, Musselman went a combined 20-5 over two seasons, earning All-Conference honors both years and leading the Hurricanes to the Junior College World Series in 1975.

It was then on to Atlantic Coast Conference power Clemson for Musselman, who continued to shine. He was a two-time All-Conference performer for the Tigers and helped the club advance to the College World Series in his two years with the program. Musselman fashioned an identical 20-5 record on the NCAA Division I level and still holds Clemson’s single season shutout season with four shutouts.

Musselman was drafted three times before starting his big league career with the Seattle Mariners. He pitched one season with Seattle in 1982 and appeared in two seasons for the Toronto Blue Jays in 1984-85. Musselman’s career numbers include 48 games in the majors,  with a 4-2 record and 3.73 earned run average.