HOUSTON, TX - Former Astros All-Star Billy Wagner, who is making his ninth appearance on the Hall of Fame ballot, has superior career numbers in several key categories to any current Hall of Fame reliever, with the exception of Mariano Rivera. _Last year, Wagner made a significant leap in the voting totals, increasing from 51.0% of the vote in 2022 to 68.1% in 2023. That continued a steady, consistent upward trend for Wagner in recent years that saw him go from 16.7% of the vote in 2019 to 33.2% in 2020, to 46.4% in 2021, to 51% in 2022 and to 68.1% in 2023. _
THE CASE FOR WAGNER
During his 16-year career, Billy Wagner was one of the most dominant and hardest-throwing closers in Major League history. His career statistics top those of all but one current Hall of Fame reliever in several key categories. In his 903.0 career innings pitched, Wagner allowed just 601 hits while tallying 1,196 strikeouts. Additional evidence of Wagner’s dominance are his 11.92 SO/9 innings pitched ratio and .187 opponents batting average, both of which are, by far, the best career totals of ANY pitcher, starter or reliever, in Major League history in those categories (min. 900 IP). His 0.997 career WHIP is second-best all-time among all hurlers in ML history (min. 900 IP).
A seven-time All-Star, Wagner’s 2.31 career ERA ranks second among Hall of Fame relievers, his 85.9 career save percentage is third and his 422 career saves are fourth.
Wagner had several stellar seasons, with one of his most memorable occurring in 1999. That season, he had 39 saves with a 1.57 ERA while punching out 124 batters in 74.2 innings pitched and allowing just 35 hits. His .135 opponents batting average and 14.95 SO/9 innings pitched totals were the best in Major League history for a single season at the time, while his 0.78 WHIP was fourth-best in ML history. His 1999 campaign was unquestionably one of the most dominant seasons ever by a closer, earning him a fourth-place finish in the NL Cy Young voting that season.
*WAGNER’S MLB RANKINGS AMONG ALL PITCHERS - ALL-TIME**
Opponents Batting Avg. - .187 (1st)
Strikeouts Per 9 IP - 11.92 (1st)
Hits Per 9 IP - 5.99 (1st)
WHIP - 0.997 (2nd)
Opponents OPS - .558 (2nd) - based on STATS rankings of pitchers with complete OPS data
FIP - 2.46 (5th)
*_Min. 900 innings pitched_**
MORE WAGNER
Wagner was also a model of consistency throughout his entire career, posting an ERA of 2.52 or below in nine seasons and of 2.85 or below in 15 of his 16 seasons, topping that number only once in a season cut short due to an injury (2000). He also had four campaigns with an ERA below 2.00. Wagner reached 40 saves twice and 30 or more saves nine times in his career.
In his last Major League season in 2010, Wagner topped off his outstanding career with one of the best final seasons of any pitcher in Major League history, posting a 7-2 record in 71 appearances with 37 saves and 104 strikeouts in just 69.1 innings of work. He also posted a career low 1.43 ERA and an 0.87 WHIP while allowing just 38 hits for a .159 opponents batting average.
OFFENSIVE ERA
Making Wagner’s dominance even more impressive is that he pitched during an era of record-setting offensive numbers for runs scored and home runs.
BILL JAMES HALL OF FAME MONITOR
Wagner registered a score of 107 on the Hall of Fame Monitor scoring system created by Bill James and based on combined career statistics. According to this system, a score of 100 or above indicates a likely Hall of Fame reliever.
UNIQUE CAREER PATH
Wagner has one of the most unique backstories of any successful pitcher in Major League history. He originally threw with his right arm. However, after breaking his right arm twice when he was seven years old while growing up in Virginia, he taught himself to throw with his left arm by throwing a baseball against the wall of a barn.
CONSU**M**MATE PROFESSIONAL
During his career, Wagner developed a reputation as a standup guy with members of the media. He was available in both good times and in challenging times and often provided candid, thoughtful quotes.
See below for additional information on Wagner’s standout career.
WAGNER BY THE NUMBERS
**Career 11.92 SO/9 IP ratio, .187 opponent batting average and 5.99 hits/9IP ratio are the best of ANY pitcher in ML history (min. 900 IP).
**Career 0.997 WHIP is second among all pitchers in ML history (min. 900 IP).
**1,196 career strikeouts are the most ever by a left-handed reliever.
**422 career saves are 4th among HOF relievers. 85.9% save percentage ranks 3rd.
**Reached 30 or more saves nine times in his career and 40 or more saves twice.
**Named to seven All-Star teams.
**Posted an ERA under 2.00 in four different seasons.
**Posted an ERA of 2.85 or below in 15 of his 16 ML seasons, and 2.52 or below in nine seasons.
****Posted a WHIP under 0.90 in six full seasons and under 1.00 in seven full seasons. **
**In what was an historic 1999 season, his 14.95 SO/9 IP ratio and .135 opponents batting average both were the
best single-season totals in ML history at that time. In his 74.2 innings, he allowed just 35 hits while striking out
**124 batters. He also tallied 39 saves with a 1.57 ERA. **
**From 1997-99, he posted what were at the time three of the four highest SO/9IP ratios in ML history: 14.38, 14.55 and 14.95, respectively (min. 50 apps).
**Had one of the most dominant final seasons in ML history in 2010. In addition to posting a career-best 1.43 ERA, he also had 37 saves, an 0.87 WHIP and a .159 opponents batting average, allowing just 38 hits in 69.1 innings pitched while striking out 104 batters.