Billy Wagner, the former Houston Astros relief pitcher, is closing in on his final Hall of Fame voting year. Last year, Wagner just missed the induction. He received 68.1% of the vote last year, second among the players who did not accept the 75% minimum threshold needed for induction.
Billy Wagner Hall Of Fame? One Last Year
Final Ballot Year
Wagner is entering his ninth and final year on the ballot. This Tuesday is a milestone; no player can remain on the ballot for over ten years. The statistics Wagner, known during his playing days as “Billy the Kid,” are nominal. While he only notched a 26-29 win-loss record, his prowess emerged in the bullpen.
During his career with the Astros, he notched 225 saves. Through those wins, he made it to the All-Star Game three times. He was also named the Rolaids Relief Man of the Year in 1999 while with the Astros. That year, he amassed 39 saves while finishing fourth in National League Cy Young voting.
Wagner’s Career
While Wagner has played for numerous teams, his closest association is his nine seasons with the Houston Astros. By the end of his career, Wagner had played for the Astros, Philadelphia Phillies, Boston Red Sox, Atlanta Braves, and the New York Mets. By the time his career ended, he had become a seven-time All-Star and was part of a combined no-hitter with the Astros on June 11, 2003.
Overall, his 422 career saves rank as the second highest among all left-handed relievers and notch the same as sixth overall. With a career 2.31 ERA, he has notched the lowest mark among retired left-handed pitchers who have amassed at least 500 innings during the live ball era. When he retired, his 14.95 single-season striker-per-nine innings was the highest mark among all relievers.
The Ballot
The Hall of Fame ballot for 2024 is full of notable players who are still eligible. More than two dozen players sit on the ballot at varying degrees of eligibility. The list of players could be its article, but local Houston-associated names for this season also include Carlos Beltrán and Andy Pettite. Wagner’s vote totals have increased year-over-year, the last rising from 51% to 68.1%, just shy of the 75% threshold to make it to the HOF.
Induction Ceremony
The 2024 Major League Baseball Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will occur this summer. The event, with inductees to be announced, will be held on Sunday, July 21, 2024. As in previous years, the induction event will be held at the Clark Sports Center in Cooperstown, New York.
Main Photo Credits: Merrily Cassidy/Cape Cod Times / USA TODAY NETWORK
