Persistence paid off for Billy Wagner, the former lefty fireball closer for the Astros. After spending nine years on the ballot starting at just over 10 percent of the vote (candidates must get 75 percent of all Hall of Fame ballots to be elected), Wagner managed to get 82.5 percent this year, enough to finally make it to Cooperstown,
Wagner, who is a native of Virginia where he went to school at Ferrum College, is the greatest closer in Astros history with 225 saves over nine seasons. He was drafted by the Astros as a starter but eventually switched to closer featuring a ridiculous 100-mile-per-hour heater. In 1999, he finished fourth in balloting for the National League Cy Young Award.
For all the times he faced pressure in the big leagues, Wagner has admitted that the last couple times he was close to getting the nod for the Hall of Fame, he has been nervous. He recently told MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart, “I think it’s more hectic and nerve-wracking this year because this is it,” alluding to the fact that had he not gotten the requisite votes this time, he would have to rely on the Era Ballot at some point in the future.
The lefty will be the third Astro to be inducted into the Hall of Fame following his former teammates Craig Biggio (2015) and Jeff Bagwell (2017). Both have advocated for Wagner over the years as has his former team. He has said that the baseball cap he will wear upon induction is that of the Astros.
It’s a remarkable achievement and yet another reward for an Astros team that, at the time, had one of the best rosters in baseball despite not making a World Series until 2005, two years after Wagner had left the team. He was part of the 1998 team that won 102 games and, prior to the run of Astros teams over the last decade, was considered perhaps the best roster in team history.
Wagner is joined by the first Japanese-born player to make the Hall, Ichiro Suzuki, and former Indians and Yankees pitcher C.C. Sabathia. The induction ceremony will be Sunday, July 27. Wagner has waited this long. He can make it a few more months.
