An American professional baseball player and a representative for the state of Pennsylvania, James Renwick Wylie never forgot his years in Beaver County.

Ren Wylie was born December 14, 1861, in Elizabeth Township in Allegheny County, PA. Ren attended the public schools of Pittsburgh and Geneva College. His years at Geneva College were remembered in a letter he wrote to the college dated January 1949, "…I spent six very happy years at Geneva from the fall of 1881 to the spring of [1887]. Two years as prep, four years of college. Remember quite well of playing on the Commons at what was called Barnard town".

Batting and throwing to the right, standing 5'-11" and weighing about 155 pounds, 20-year-old Ren made his debut on August 11, 1882, as a centerfielder for the Pittsburgh Alleghenys (nka the Pittsburgh Pirates). Ren's first appearance was against the Baltimore Orioles in a 1-0 loss, making him the first baseball player with a Beaver County connection to play in the major leagues. Ren was hitless in three at bats in the game. Ren's first appearance would be his only appearance playing professional baseball. That year, the Alleghenys had a record of 39-39, finishing in fourth place in the American Association.

Ren's lone professional baseball game was in Pittsburgh's Exposition Park I, now located on today's Pittsburgh North Shore. Earlier that season, on May 10, 1882, the Pittsburgh Alleghenys played their first major league game in Pittsburgh, defeating the St. Louis Brown Stockings 9-5 in Exposition Park I in the first home game in Pirates franchise history. It was also the first time the Pittsburgh Alleghenys (nka the Pittsburgh Pirates) faced the Cardinals franchise.

Ren was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1914 and 1916. Over his lifetime, he was a law student, real estate businessman, member of the Wilkinsburg Board of Education, Trustee of the Second United Presbyterian Church, and member of the State Legislature. Ren's goal when he was running for the Senate was to work toward ratifying the Prohibition Amendment.

In 1947, Ren received the Geneva College's Life G Award, the highest alumni award that honors graduates for their exemplary contributions on behalf of the college, the community, and the nation.

James Renwick "Ren" Wylie died August 17, 1951, at age 89, in Wilkinsburg, PA.