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Billy Wagner

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Billy Wagner

William Edward Wagner (born July 25, 1971), nicknamed "Billy the Kid", is an American former professional baseball pitcher who played 16 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Houston Astros, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Mets, Boston Red Sox, and Atlanta Braves from 1995 to 2010. A seven-time All-Star and the 1999 National League (NL) Rolaids Relief Man Award winner, Wagner is one of only eight major league relief pitchers to reach 400 career saves. A left-handed batter and thrower, Wagner stands 5 feet 10 inches (1.78 m) tall and weighs 180 pounds (82 kg). A natural-born right-hander, Wagner learned to throw left-handed after fracturing his arm twice in his youth. Wagner's career 11.9 strikeouts per nine innings pitched (K/9) is the 2nd highest of any major league pitcher with at least 900 innings pitched (Kenley Jansen). His career 2.31 earned run average, .187 batting average against, and 0.998 WHIP are the lowest of any left-handed pitcher in the live-ball era. He finished in the top ten in saves in the NL ten times, and in the top ten in games finished nine times. In 2025, Wagner was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Infobox

Win–loss record
47–40
Earned run average
2.31
Strikeouts
1,196
Saves
422
Induction
2025
Vote
82.5% (tenth ballot)

Tables

Awards and honors received by Billy Wagner · Accomplishments and honors › National Baseball Hall of Fame consideration
National Baseball Hall of Fame
National Baseball Hall of Fame
Award
National Baseball Hall of Fame
Result / Section
Inducted
Year
2025
Relief Man of the Year
Relief Man of the Year
Award
Relief Man of the Year
Year
1999
Delivery Man of the Month
Delivery Man of the Month
Award
Delivery Man of the Month
Result / Section
July
Year
2007
Houston Astros Rookie of the Year
Houston Astros Rookie of the Year
Award
Houston Astros Rookie of the Year
Result / Section
1996
Houston Astros Pitcher of the Year
Houston Astros Pitcher of the Year
Award
Houston Astros Pitcher of the Year
Result / Section
2003
Houston Astros Hall of Fame
Houston Astros Hall of Fame
Award
Houston Astros Hall of Fame
Result / Section
Inducted
Year
2020
National College Baseball Hall of Fame
National College Baseball Hall of Fame
Award
National College Baseball Hall of Fame
Result / Section
Inducted
Year
2019
Virginia Sports Hall of Fame and Museum
Virginia Sports Hall of Fame and Museum
Award
Virginia Sports Hall of Fame and Museum
Result / Section
Inducted
Year
2012
Ferrum College Hall of Fame
Ferrum College Hall of Fame
Award
Ferrum College Hall of Fame
Result / Section
Inducted
Year
2003
Award
Result / Section
Year
mw- Ref.
National Baseball Hall of Fame
Inducted
2025
Relief Man of the Year
1999
Delivery Man of the Month
July
2007
Houston Astros Rookie of the Year
1996
Houston Astros Pitcher of the Year
2003
Houston Astros Hall of Fame
Inducted
2020
National College Baseball Hall of Fame
Inducted
2019
Virginia Sports Hall of Fame and Museum
Inducted
2012
Ferrum College Hall of Fame
Inducted
2003
· External links
Preceded byKevin Millwood
Preceded byKevin Millwood
Achievements
Preceded byKevin Millwood
Achievements
No-hit game June 11, 2003 (with Oswalt, Munro, Saarloos, Lidge & Dotel)
Achievements
Succeeded byRandy Johnson
Preceded byRyan Madson
Preceded byRyan Madson
Achievements
Preceded byRyan Madson
Achievements
Steve Carlton Most Valuable Pitcher 2005
Achievements
Succeeded byTom Gordon
Achievements
Preceded byKevin Millwood
No-hit game June 11, 2003 (with Oswalt, Munro, Saarloos, Lidge & Dotel)
Succeeded byRandy Johnson
Preceded byRyan Madson
Steve Carlton Most Valuable Pitcher 2005
Succeeded byTom Gordon

References

  1. Sports Illustrated
    https://www.si.com/vault/1999/09/20/266702/astro-physics-to-understand-how-houston-closer-billy-wagner-can-throw-a-baseball-100-mph-youve-got-to-examine-the-dynamics-of-his-rural-upbringing
  2. Sports Illustrated
    https://www.si.com/mlb/2017/12/19/billy-wagner-hall-fame-ballot-2018
  3. "Billy Wagner returns home to coach son's high school team, run charity"
    http://www.maxpreps.com/news/l0I98F5Un0iGXmfQn9rBrQ/billy-wagner-returns-home-to-coach-sons-high-school-team,-run-charity.htm
  4. "Former MLB closer Wagner savors new challenge as Miller baseball coach"
    https://www.dailyprogress.com/sports/high_school/former-mlb-closer-wagner-savors-new-challenge-as-miller-baseball/article_e0176c7a-df71-11e2-9407-001a4bcf6878.html
  5. Ferrum College
    https://ferrumpanthers.com/honors/hall-of-fame/billy-wagner/58
  6. "2022 CCBL Hall of Fame Class Announced"
    https://www.capecodbaseball.org/news/?article_id=3085
  7. "Major League Baseball Players From the Cape Cod League"
    http://capecodbaseball.org.ismmedia.com/ISM3/std-content/repos/Top/2012website/archives/Current%20Year/All_Time_MLB_CCBL_Alumni.pdf
  8. The Cape Codder
    https://snow-library.com/viewer/5555?medianame=1992_thecapecodder_vol47_issue65_orleans_000013&q=%22Billy%20Wagner%22#page=13&viewer=picture&o=search&n=0&q=%22Billy%20Wagner%22
  9. Baseball-Reference.com
    https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/leader.cgi?type=pitch&year=1994&group=Minors&show_fas=0&sort_by=SO
  10. MLB.com
    https://www.mlb.com/news/billy-wagner-top-moments
  11. StatMuse
    https://www.statmuse.com/mlb/ask/single-season-strikeouts-per-9-leaders-from-1901-to-1997-minimum-8-innings-pitched
  12. Baseball-Reference.com
    https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/HOU/leaders_pitch_50_season.shtml
  13. FanGraphs
    http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-1998-astros-were-pretty-good-at-hitting/
  14. Baseball-Reference.com
    https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=wagnebi02&t=p&year=2000
  15. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2003/06/12/sports/baseball-astros-seem-a-bit-baffled-by-their-odd-no-hitter.html
  16. The 2004 Bill James Handbook (2003 statistics)
  17. FanGraphs
    https://blogs.fangraphs.com/jaws-and-the-2025-hall-of-fame-ballot-billy-wagner/
  18. ESPN.com
    https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=1652893
  19. Baseball-Reference.com
    https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/wagnebi02.shtml
  20. "Wagner has no regrets over comments"
    https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=2439358
  21. MLB.com
    https://web.archive.org/web/20070624134812/http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20051129&content_id=1273464&vkey=news_nym&fext=.jsp&c_id=nym
  22. Baseball-Reference.com
    https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=wagnebi02&t=p&year=2010
  23. Society for American Baseball Research
    https://sabr.org/gamesproj/game/august-30-2007-phillies-come-from-behind-to-walk-off-a-crucial-win-over-the-mets/
  24. Baseball-Reference.com
    https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.fcgi?id=wagnebi02&t=p&year=2007
  25. New York Daily News
    https://www.nydailynews.com/2007/09/21/no-billy-wagner-big-problem-mets-lose-heartbreaker-in-10th/
  26. nj.com
    https://www.nj.com/mets/2008/05/wagner_rips_teammates_after_me.html
  27. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/16/sports/baseball/16wagner.html
  28. Baseball-Reference.com
    https://www.baseball-reference.com/allstar/2008-allstar-game.shtml
  29. "Mets' Wagner to Have Elbow Surgery, Is Out for 2009"
    https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601079&sid=arg55QLBIVsg&refer=home
  30. "Mets' Billy Wagner will be out through 2009 season"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20080913150250/http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hlq9WGyiY1isXTuquvmvqDorvu3QD932ND100
  31. MLB.com
    https://web.archive.org/web/20080914081519/http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080909&content_id=3443419&vkey=news_nym&fext=.jsp&c_id=nym
  32. "Wagner: I've played my last game with the Mets"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20080914225025/http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/8555004/Wagner%3A-I%27ve-played-my-last-game-with-the-Mets
  33. MLB.com
    https://www.mlb.com/player/billy-wagner-123790
  34. nj.com
    https://www.nj.com/mets/2009/08/return_of_closer_billy_wagner.html
  35. ESPN
    https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=4415035
  36. "Mets to get two players for Wagner"
    https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=4421684
  37. The Boston Globe
    https://web.archive.org/web/20100113050003/http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2009/12/03/wagner_gets_7m_from_braves/
  38. MLB.com
    http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20091202&content_id=7740258&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb
  39. MLB.com
    https://web.archive.org/web/20100504052848/http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100430&content_id=9707344&vkey=news_atl&fext=.jsp&c_id=atl
  40. Spartanburg Herald Journal
    https://www.goupstate.com/story/sports/mlb/2010/06/25/wagner-earns-400th-save-as-braves-knock-off-detroit/29829214007/
  41. Atlanta Journal-Constitution
    http://web.archive.org/web/20100628034654/https://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blog/2010/06/25/wagner-braves-quotes-after-fridays-win/
  42. AJC.com
    https://web.archive.org/web/20100714143112/http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blog/2010/07/11/wagner-declines-all-star-invite-opts-to-rest-ankle/?cxntfid=blogs_atlanta_braves_blog
  43. Baseball-Reference.com
    https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/ATL/ATL201010030.shtml
  44. Sports Illustrated
    https://www.si.com/mlb/2017/12/19/billy-wagner-hall-fame-ballot-2018
  45. ESPN.com
    https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=5664861
  46. The News & Advance
    https://web.archive.org/web/20120320091054/http://www.mynewsadvance.com/index.php/vt_sports_blog/comments/billy_wagner_says_he_is_retired._case_closed/
  47. The Columbian
    https://www.columbian.com/news/2011/mar/30/braves-give-release-to-retired-closer-wagner/
  48. Bluefield Daily Telegraph
    https://archive.today/20130628174247/http://bdtonline.com/localsports/x2015920179/Wagner-s-new-team-hands-loss-to-Tazewell
  49. MaxPreps
    https://www.maxpreps.com/news/v6W7dUo_NkmcH3ZrrwDU2Q/billy-wagner-wins-fourth-state-championship-as-high-school-baseball-coach-two-months-before-induction-into-hall-of-fame.htm
  50. Sportsnet
    https://www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/article/blue-jays-trade-provides-will-wagner-with-major-league-opportunity/
  51. 29 News
    https://www.29news.com/2025/05/08/billy-wagner-talks-hall-fame-coaching-sons-miller/
  52. USA Today
    https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2017/01/09/hall-fame-case-billy-wagner-balances-lower-save-total-dominance/96308024/
  53. USA South
    https://www.usasouth.net/sports/bsb/2011-12/releases/20120130s364nc
  54. National College Baseball Hall of Fame
    https://www.mlb.com/college-baseball-hall-of-fame/class-of-2019
  55. MLB.com
    https://www.mlb.com/astros/history/hall-of-fame/inductees/billy-wagner
  56. CBS Sports
    https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/astros-retiring-billy-wagners-no-13-after-closer-was-elected-to-baseball-hall-of-fame/
  57. CBS Sports
    https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/2023-baseball-hall-of-fame-voting-results-scott-rolen-gets-in-joins-fred-mcgriff-todd-helton-just-short/
  58. MLB.com
    https://www.mlb.com/news/hall-of-famers-elected-in-final-year-on-ballot-c302974298
  59. Baseball Almanac
    https://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/awards.php?p=wagnebi02
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