Seven-time All-Star closer reflects on falling just short of HOF induction
Former longtime Houston Astros closer Billy Wagner discussed his recent near induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame on Tuesday with Doug Glanville and Jayson Stark on the "Starkville" podcast.
The seven-time All-Star fell just five votes short of receiving the necessary 75 percent support for enshrinement into the legendary National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Wagner will have one more chance to be voted in during his 10th and final year on the ballot in 2025.
The southpaw will be one of the most interesting cases for the Hall of Fame next year due to how close he was (73.8 percent) to making it this month and the fact that next year will be his final chance.
Fortunately for Wagner, the numbers appear to point to his induction in 2025.
This month's vote tally was his highest yet after he garnered just 10% of the votes in his first year of eligibility in 2016.
Next year's ballot will feature a group of intriguing first-year candidates like former AL MVP outfielder Ichiro Suzuki (presumably a lock for enshrinement on his first try) and former AL Cy Young award winner CC Sabathia.
Wagner was drafted by the Astros in the first round of the 1993 MLB June Amateur Draft and spent the first nine years of his career with the club from 1995-2003. The 52-year-old then played with the Philadelphia Phillies for two seasons and three-plus seasons with the New York Mets, before concluding his career with the Boston Red Sox for part of 2009 and the Atlanta Braves in 2010.
Wagner is widely considered to be one of the most dominant left-handed relievers in MLB history and his 422 saves put him sixth on the all-time list. He's second among southpaws in the category, finishing just behind Mets legend John Franco (424 saves).
More must-reads: