View source for Billy Wagner

{{short description|American baseball player (born 1971)}}
{{About|the American Hall of Fame baseball pitcher|other people named Billy Wagner|William Wagner (disambiguation){{!}}William Wagner}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2012}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
| name       = Billy Wagner
| image      = {{CSS image crop |Image=Billy Wagner pitches on Old-Timers' Day, Aug 27 2022 (cropped).jpg|bSize=390 |cWidth=270 |cHeight=285 |oTop=10 |oLeft=65 |Location=center}}
| width      = 270
| caption    = Wagner in 2022
| position   = [[Pitcher]]
| bats       = Left
| throws     = Left
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1971|7|25}}
| birth_place= [[Marion, Virginia]], U.S.
|debutleague = MLB
| debutdate  = September 13
| debutyear  = 1995
| debutteam  = Houston Astros
|finalleague = MLB
| finaldate  = October 3
| finalyear  = 2010
| finalteam  = Atlanta Braves
|statleague = MLB
| stat1label = [[Win–loss record (pitching)|Win–loss record]]
| stat1value = 47–40
| stat2label = [[Earned run average]]
| stat2value = 2.31
| stat3label = [[Strikeout]]s
| stat3value = 1,196
| stat4label = [[Save (baseball)|Saves]]
| stat4value = 422
| teams      = 
* [[Houston Astros]] ({{mlby|1995}}–{{mlby|2003}})
* [[Philadelphia Phillies]] ({{mlby|2004}}–{{mlby|2005}})
* [[New York Mets]] ({{mlby|2006}}–{{mlby|2009}})
* [[Boston Red Sox]] ({{mlby|2009}})
* [[Atlanta Braves]] ({{mlby|2010}})
| highlights = 
* 7× [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] ([[1999 MLB All-Star Game|1999]], [[2001 MLB All-Star Game|2001]], [[2003 MLB All-Star Game|2003]], [[2005 MLB All-Star Game|2005]], [[2007 MLB All-Star Game|2007]], [[2008 MLB All-Star Game|2008]], [[2010 MLB All-Star Game|2010]])
* [[NL Rolaids Relief Man Award]] (1999)
* Pitched a combined [[no-hitter]] on June 11, 2003 
* [[Houston Astros#Retired numbers|Houston Astros No. 13]] retired
* [[Houston Astros#Astros Hall of Fame|Houston Astros Hall of Fame]]
|hoflink = National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
|hoftype = National
|hofdate = [[2025 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting|2025]]
|hofvote = 82.5% (tenth ballot)
}}

'''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 [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] and the 1999 [[National League (baseball)|National League]] (NL) [[Rolaids Relief Man Award]] winner, Wagner is one of only eight major league [[relief pitcher]]s to reach 400 career [[Save (baseball)|save]]s. A left-handed batter and thrower, Wagner stands {{convert|5|ft|10|in|m}} tall and weighs {{convert|180|lb}}.

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 [[walks plus hits per inning pitched|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 {{bhofy|2025}}, Wagner was elected to the [[National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum|Baseball Hall of Fame]].

==Early life==
Wagner was born to 16-year-old Yvonne and 18-year-old William “Hotrod” Wagner in [[Marion, Virginia]], on July 25, 1971. Wagner's parents divorced in 1976 when he was five years old. Wagner and his younger sister, Chasity, spent the following 10 years living with various combinations of their parents, their stepparents, and their grandparents in the general Marion area. During this time, Wagner and his family often relied on [[Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program|food stamps]].<ref name="astrophysics">{{cite magazine |last1=Bamberger |first1=Michael |title=Astro Physics: Houston closer Billy Wagner's rural upbringing |url=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 |access-date=23 November 2018 |magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]] |date=September 20, 1999 |language=en}}</ref> Wagner described a typical breakfast as a "few crackers with peanut butter and a glass of water."<ref name="jaffevaluating">{{cite magazine |last1=Jaffe |first1=Jay |title=Evaluating the dominant Billy Wagner's Hall of Fame case |url=https://www.si.com/mlb/2017/12/19/billy-wagner-hall-fame-ballot-2018 |access-date=23 November 2018 |magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]] |date=December 19, 2017 |language=en}}</ref>

At seven years old, Wagner's right arm was broken when, while playing [[American football|football]] with some neighborhood kids, one of them accidentally fell on it. Shortly after having the cast removed, he broke the arm again. To avoid long-term damage to the arm, Wagner, a natural right-hander, began throwing a baseball left-handed.<ref name="jaffevaluating" />

At 14 years old, Wagner moved in with his aunt, uncle, and cousins, who lived in the [[Tannersville, Virginia|Tannersville]]/[[Tazewell, Virginia|Tazewell]] area about {{convert|25|mi}} away from Marion. Despite having fallen behind a year in school due to the instability in his home life, Wagner was [[Social promotion|socially promoted]] to [[Tazewell High School]] because administrators feared he threw hard enough to injure his middle-school classmates.<ref name="astrophysics" />

==Career==
===Amateur career===
Wagner graduated from [[Tazewell High School]] in [[Tazewell, Virginia]], compiling a .451 batting average, 23 stolen bases, 29 runs batted in, 116 strikeouts in 46 innings, a 7–1 pitching record, and a 1.52 ERA in his senior season.<ref>{{cite web|last=Krider|first=Dave|title=Billy Wagner returns home to coach son's high school team, run charity|url=http://www.maxpreps.com/news/l0I98F5Un0iGXmfQn9rBrQ/billy-wagner-returns-home-to-coach-sons-high-school-team,-run-charity.htm|publisher=[[MaxPreps]]|access-date=March 27, 2014|date=May 2, 2013}}</ref> As a senior in high school, Wagner was only {{convert|5|ft|5|in|m}} tall and {{convert|135|lb|kg}}<ref name="jaffevaluating" /> and, as a result, could not get attention from [[Major League Baseball]] scouts or [[NCAA Division I|Division I]] schools.<ref name="astrophysics" />

Wagner chose to follow his cousin to [[Ferrum College]], a small liberal arts college in [[Ferrum, Virginia]], where they both played baseball and football. Coaches at Ferrum encouraged Wagner to focus on baseball, and he would eventually take their advice and stop playing football.<ref name="astrophysics" />

Wagner set single-season [[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]] records for [[strikeouts per nine innings]], with {{frac|19|1|3}} in 1992, and the fewest [[hits per nine innings|hits allowed per nine innings]], with 1.88.<ref>{{cite web|last=Metzinger|first=Fritz|title=Former MLB closer Wagner savors new challenge as Miller baseball coach|url=http://www.dailyprogress.com/sports/high_school/former-mlb-closer-wagner-savors-new-challenge-as-miller-baseball/article_e0176c7a-df71-11e2-9407-001a4bcf6878.html|publisher=[[The Daily Progress]]|access-date=March 27, 2014|date=June 27, 2013}}</ref> He was inducted into the Ferrum College Hall of Fame in 2003.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Billy Wagner (2003) - Hall of Fame |url=https://ferrumpanthers.com/honors/hall-of-fame/billy-wagner/58 |access-date=2025-06-10 |website=Ferrum College |language=en}}</ref>

After the 1992 season, he played [[collegiate summer baseball]] with the [[Brewster Whitecaps]] of the [[Cape Cod Baseball League]] (CCBL), was named the league's outstanding pro prospect, and is a member of the [[Cape Cod Baseball League#Hall of Fame and Museum|CCBL Hall of Fame]] class of 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.capecodbaseball.org/news/?article_id=3085 |title=2022 CCBL Hall of Fame Class Announced |publisher=capecodbaseball.org |date=June 12, 2022 |accessdate=June 12, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://capecodbaseball.org.ismmedia.com/ISM3/std-content/repos/Top/2012website/archives/Current%20Year/All_Time_MLB_CCBL_Alumni.pdf |title=Major League Baseball Players From the Cape Cod League |publisher=capecodbaseball.org |access-date=January 9, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title = Cape League Notes | pages = 13 | newspaper = The Cape Codder | location = Orleans, MA | date = August 11, 1992 | url = 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 }}</ref>

===Houston Astros===
====Minor leagues and early major league career: 1993−97====
Wagner was selected in the first round of the [[1993 Major League Baseball draft|Major League Baseball draft]] in June 1993 by the [[1993 Houston Astros season|Houston Astros]]. He pitched exclusively as a [[starting pitcher]] in [[Minor League Baseball]] for the Quad Cities River Bandits, until his major league debut. In [[1994 in baseball|1994]], Wagner led all North American minor league pitchers in strikeouts, with 204.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/leader.cgi?type=pitch&year=1994&group=Minors&show_fas=0&sort_by=SO |title=1994 register pitching leaders, sorted by strikeouts |work=[[Baseball-Reference.com]] |access-date=October 16, 2016}}</ref> Wagner made his first Major League appearance with the Astros, as a late-season promotion from AAA baseball, on September 12, [[1995 Houston Astros season|1995]], pitching against one batter late in a 10–5 defeat by the [[1995 New York Mets season|New York Mets]]. This was his only opportunity to pitch for the Astros that season.

Wagner began in [[1996 Houston Astros season|1996]], once again in the minor leagues as a starting pitcher, but he finished the season by becoming a relief pitcher for the Astros. He accumulated a 6–2 record with a 3.28 [[earned run average|ERA]], in twelve starts for the AAA [[Tucson Toros]]. His baseball contract was purchased by the Astros on June 2, 1996, and Wagner was then assigned exclusively as a short-relief pitcher by the Astros [[manager (baseball)|manager]]. He finished the Major League season with nine saves in 13 opportunities, allowed 28 [[hit (baseball)|hits]], and he struck out 67 hitters in {{frac|51|2|3}} innings – giving him a rate of 11.7 strikeouts per nine innings pitched. His opponents had a [[batting average (baseball)|batting average]] of .165 against him.

In [[1997 Houston Astros season|1997]], Wagner played his first full season in the major leagues. He accumulated 23 saves in 29 opportunities, and he struck out 106 batters in {{frac|66|1|3}} innings. This set a major league record of 14.4 [[Strikeouts per nine innings pitched|strikeouts per nine innings]], which broke the old record of 14.1 set by the former [[Cincinnati Reds]] reliever [[Rob Dibble]] in 1992.<ref>{{cite web | last=McTaggart | first=Brian | title=Billy Wagner's top moments | website=MLB.com | date=2025-01-22 | url=https://www.mlb.com/news/billy-wagner-top-moments | access-date=2025-11-08}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Single Season Strikeouts Per 9 Leaders From 1901 To 1997 Minimum 8 Innings Pitched |url=https://www.statmuse.com/mlb/ask/single-season-strikeouts-per-9-leaders-from-1901-to-1997-minimum-8-innings-pitched |access-date=2025-06-06 |website=StatMuse |language=en}}</ref>

Wagner struck out the side 13 times in his 66 innings pitched, and his season total of 106 strikeouts set a Houston Astros record for relief pitchers.

====1998−99====
In [[1998 Houston Astros season|1998]], Wagner posted a 4–3 record with a 2.70 ERA and 97 strikeouts in 60 innings pitched. He saved 30 games, at the time the second-most in a single season in team history.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Houston Astros Top 50 Single-Season Pitching Leaders |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/HOU/leaders_pitch_50_season.shtml |access-date=2025-06-06 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> He converted 19 consecutive save chances between his first blown save against the [[1998 Los Angeles Dodgers season|Los Angeles Dodgers]], on April 12, and then his second one facing the [[1998 St. Louis Cardinals season|St. Louis Cardinals]] on July 11.

On July 15, 1998, while protecting an 8–7 lead over the [[1998 Arizona Diamondbacks season|Arizona Diamondbacks]], Wagner was struck by a batted ball on the left side of his head behind his ear. Wagner was alert and conscious on the ground, and his vital signs remained good. He was carried off the baseball diamond on a stretcher, and it was found that he had suffered a [[concussion]]. He spent the night in the hospital. On the next day, he flew home to Houston, and he was also immediately placed on baseball's 15-day [[disabled list]]. Wagner worked on his balance and coordination for weeks before he was cleared by the team physicians to embark on a rehabilitation assignment with a minor-league team. After pitching there in three games, Wagner was recalled to the Astros on August 6, and he completed the rest of the baseball season there without incident. The Astros won a franchise-best 102 games while winning the [[National League Central]] division title and leading the league in runs scored. Their season ended with a defeat at the hands of the [[1998 San Diego Padres season|San Diego Padres]] in the [[1998 National League Division Series|National League Division Series]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Swydan |first=Paul |date=May 17, 2013 |title=The 1998 Astros were pretty good at hitting |url=http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-1998-astros-were-pretty-good-at-hitting/ |access-date=February 16, 2016 |website=[[FanGraphs]]}}</ref>

Wagner captured the 1999 [[Rolaids Relief Man of the Year|Relief Man of the Year Award]] in the [[National League (baseball)|National League]]. He saved 39 games and struck out 124 in 74 innings (15 strikeouts per 9 innings). Wagner posted a 4–1 record with an ERA of 1.57 and had more saves than hits allowed (in {{frac|74|2|3}} innings, he allowed 35 hits).

====2000−03====
The [[2000 Houston Astros season|2000]] season started off in typical fashion for Wagner, who saved three of the Astros' first four [[Win (baseball)|wins]] while retiring 16 of the first 20 batters he faced.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Billy Wagner 2000 Pitching Game Logs |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=wagnebi02&t=p&year=2000 |access-date=2025-06-06 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> However, after recording a save on May 4 against the [[2000 Chicago Cubs season|Chicago Cubs]], he suffered back-to-back blown saves on May 12–13 against the [[2000 Cincinnati Reds season|Reds]]. While he was still occasionally throwing 100 m.p.h. as measured by [[radar]], he was not throwing his [[Slider (baseball)|slider]] at 85–90 m.p.h. as often as he had been previously. Wagner continued to struggle before going on the disabled list with a torn flexor tendon in his pitching arm and would miss the final three and a half months of the season. He finished with a 2–4 record, a 6.18 ERA, and six saves in 15 opportunities, striking out 28 and [[base on balls|walking]] 18 in {{frac|27|2|3}} innings. He would rebound in [[2001 Houston Astros season|2001]]. Coming off elbow surgery, he posted a record of 2–5 with 39 saves in 41 chances and an ERA of 2.73. In {{frac|62|2|3}} innings, he struck out 79 hitters.

In [[2002 Houston Astros season|2002]], Wagner went 4–2 with a 2.52 ERA, 88 strikeouts, and 35 saves in 75 innings. Then, he enjoyed his best season in 2003, when he reached career-highs in saves (44), innings pitched (86) and games (78), and got 105 strikeouts while leading the league in [[games finished]].

On June 11, [[2003 Houston Astros season|2003]], Wagner closed out a [[no-hitter]] thrown by a record six pitchers against the [[2003 New York Yankees season|New York Yankees]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Lilly |first=Brandon |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/06/12/sports/baseball-astros-seem-a-bit-baffled-by-their-odd-no-hitter.html |title=Astros seem a bit baffled by their odd no-hitter |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=June 12, 2003 |access-date=February 17, 2016}}</ref> In 2003, he was the majors' hardest-throwing pitcher, throwing 159 pitches at 100&nbsp;mph or faster. Second on the list was [[Bartolo Colón]] with 12.<ref>{{Cite book |last=James |first=Bill |author-link=Bill James |url= |title=The 2004 Bill James Handbook (2003 statistics) |date= |publisher=ACTA Publications |isbn=9780879462581}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Jaffe |first=Jay |date=2024-11-22 |title=JAWS and the 2025 Hall of Fame Ballot: Billy Wagner |url=https://blogs.fangraphs.com/jaws-and-the-2025-hall-of-fame-ballot-billy-wagner/ |access-date=2025-06-10 |website=[[FanGraphs]]}}</ref> The day the season ended, Wagner criticized the Astros front office for not building a playoff worthy team.<ref name=":2">{{cite news |date=November 3, 2003 |title=Fireballer traded for Duckworth, two others |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=1652893 |access-date=June 21, 2012 |work=[[ESPN.com]] |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref>

===Philadelphia Phillies===
[[File:Billy wagner motion 2004.jpg|400px|thumb|Wagner's pitching motion with the [[Philadelphia Phillies]] in 2004.]]

The Astros traded Wagner to the [[2004 Philadelphia Phillies season|Philadelphia Phillies]] for pitchers [[Brandon Duckworth]], [[Taylor Buchholz]], and [[Ezequiel Astacio]] on November 3, 2003.<ref name=":2" /> 

Wagner's 2004 season was shortened by strains to his groin and rotator cuff.<ref name=":1" /> He had the best ERA of his career in 2005 and again led the league in games finished. Wagner became a [[Free agency (Major League Baseball)|free agent]] after that season.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Billy Wagner Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/wagnebi02.shtml |access-date=2025-06-10 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>

In a May 7, 2006 interview, Wagner said that he was confronted by all of his former Phillies teammates in September 2005 after he had criticized their performance in the media by repeatedly saying that the Phillies had "no chance" of making the playoffs. (The Phillies ultimately missed the playoffs by one game.) Phillies [[left fielder]] [[Pat Burrell]] reportedly called Wagner a "rat." The confrontation and his demand for a no-trade clause were factors that led Wagner to leave Philadelphia.<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 9, 2006 |title=Wagner has no regrets over comments |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=2439358 |access-date=September 23, 2010 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref>

===New York Mets===
Wagner signed a four-year, $43 million contract and a one-year club option with the [[New York Mets]] on November 29, 2005.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Noble |first=Marty |date=November 28, 2005 |title=Wagner introduced at Shea |url=http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20051129&content_id=1273464&vkey=news_nym&fext=.jsp&c_id=nym |url-status=dead |archive-url=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 |archive-date=June 24, 2007 |access-date=2009-10-03 |work=MLB.com}}</ref> Wagner finished 2006 with 40 saves and a 2.24 ERA and recorded his 300th career save. His performance contributed to the Mets' first division championship in 18 years. However, he did not have a good postseason: he recorded three saves but lost one game and allowed six runs in {{frac|5|2|3}} innings.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Billy Wagner Postseason Pitching Game Logs |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=wagnebi02&t=p&year=2010 |access-date=2025-06-10 |website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref>

[[File:BillyWagner.jpg|200px|thumb|Wagner with the [[New York Mets]] in 2007.]]

Wagner had a good first half of the season in 2007. He was successful in 17 out of 18 save chances, and his ERA was 1.94. July was his best month, when he recorded eight saves in eight chances; did not allow a run scored; and he won the [[Major League Baseball Delivery Man of the Month Award|Delivery Man of the Month Award]]. During that month, Wagner's ERA was 0.00, he gave up two hits, and he pitched enough innings to be equivalent to a [[complete game]] pitched. His performance earned him a slot on the [[2007 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|National League All-Star Team]].

Wagner's second half was not nearly as successful. He converted 13 out of 17 save chances, and his ERA was 3.90. Wagner's pitching performance declined during the final two months of the season. On August 30, Wagner blew a save in the final game of a four-game series between the Phillies and Mets. The final result was a four-game sweep by the Phillies. This sweep turned out to be the difference in the season: the Mets finished one game behind the Phillies at the end of the regular season, completing a seven-game collapse. One more win against the Phillies would have allowed the Mets to win the division that year.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ginader |first=Steve |title=August 30, 2007: Phillies come from behind to walk off a crucial win over the Mets |url=https://sabr.org/gamesproj/game/august-30-2007-phillies-come-from-behind-to-walk-off-a-crucial-win-over-the-mets/ |access-date=2025-06-10 |website=[[Society for American Baseball Research]]}}</ref> Wagner had a 6.23 ERA in August, and he suffered from back spasms during September.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Billy Wagner 2007 Pitching Splits |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.fcgi?id=wagnebi02&t=p&year=2007 |access-date=2025-06-10 |website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2007-09-21 |title=No Billy Wagner, big problem: Mets lose heartbreaker in 10th |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/2007/09/21/no-billy-wagner-big-problem-mets-lose-heartbreaker-in-10th/ |access-date=2025-06-10 |website=New York Daily News |language=en-US}}</ref>

On May 15, 2008, Wagner issued a tirade against his teammates and coaches following the Mets' 1–0 loss in a game against the [[Washington Nationals]], in part directed at teammates including [[Carlos Beltrán]] and [[Carlos Delgado]] who did not conduct interviews with the press following games.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cothran |first=Jeremy D. |date=2008-05-16 |title=Wagner rips teammates after Mets' crushing loss |url=https://www.nj.com/mets/2008/05/wagner_rips_teammates_after_me.html |access-date=2025-06-06 |website=nj.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Curry |first=Jack |date=2008-05-16 |title=Wagner, Talking Again, Criticizes Silent Players |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/16/sports/baseball/16wagner.html |access-date=2025-06-06 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> However, Wagner pitched well enough in the beginning of the season to be selected for the [[2008 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star Game]]. During the game, Wagner, pitching late, surrendered a game-tying double to [[Evan Longoria]], and then the National League lost in 15 innings.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2008 All-Star Game Box Score, July 15 |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/allstar/2008-allstar-game.shtml |access-date=2025-06-06 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>

In September 2008, the Mets announced that Wagner had torn the [[ulnar collateral ligament (elbow)|ulnar collateral ligament]] of his left elbow and also his flexor pronator [[tendon]]. These injuries required [[Tommy John surgery]]. This surgery, and its recovery, put Wagner out of play for a calendar year.<ref name="elbow">{{Cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601079&sid=arg55QLBIVsg&refer=home|title=Mets' Wagner to Have Elbow Surgery, Is Out for 2009|date=September 8, 2008|publisher=Bloomberg|access-date=2008-09-08}}</ref> Wagner was paid $10.5 million by the Mets in 2009. For 2010, the Mets had an $8 million option with a $1 million buyout.<ref name="option">{{Cite news |last=Blum |first=Ronald |date=September 9, 2008 |title=Mets' Billy Wagner will be out through 2009 season |url=http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hlq9WGyiY1isXTuquvmvqDorvu3QD932ND100 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080913150250/http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hlq9WGyiY1isXTuquvmvqDorvu3QD932ND100 |archive-date=September 13, 2008 |access-date=2008-09-10 |publisher=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref>

In the news conference following the announcement of his major elbow injury, Wagner vowed that he would return to playing in MLB. Although he had previously stated that he would not pitch anymore following 2009, Wagner amended this by saying that he did not wish to end his baseball career in this fashion – ending it on a major injury. He also said that he had dreams of winning a [[World Series]], and also of reaching a total of about 420 saves in his career.<ref name="back">{{Cite news |url=http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080909&content_id=3443419&vkey=news_nym&fext=.jsp&c_id=nym |archive-url=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 |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 14, 2008 |title=Wagner vows to pitch again in Majors |last=Noble |first=Marty |date=September 9, 2008 |work=MLB.com |access-date=2008-09-10}}</ref>

However, Wagner stated furthermore that he had "played his last [baseball] game as a Met". Wagner explained that it would not make good business sense for the Mets to guarantee him $8 million for 2010, pitching or not pitching.<ref name="done">{{Cite news |url=http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/8555004/Wagner:-I%27ve-played-my-last-game-with-the-Mets |title=Wagner: I've played my last game with the Mets |last=Puma |first=Mike |date=September 12, 2008 |publisher=Fox Sports via the New York Post |access-date=2008-09-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080914225025/http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/8555004/Wagner%3A-I%27ve-played-my-last-game-with-the-Mets |archive-date=September 14, 2008 |df=mdy }}</ref>

Despite his comments, Wagner remained on the Mets' 40-man roster on the disabled list at the beginning of the season in 2009. He pitched for the first time in 2009 for the Mets on August 20 against the Atlanta Braves. He pitched one inning with two strikeouts and giving up no hits or walks.<ref name="mlbbio" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Wentworth |first=Bridget |date=2009-08-21 |title=Return of closer Billy Wagner only highlight of NY Mets' 3-2 loss to Atlanta Braves |url=https://www.nj.com/mets/2009/08/return_of_closer_billy_wagner.html |access-date=2025-06-06 |website=nj.com}}</ref>

===Boston Red Sox===
[[File:Billy Wagner on September 15, 2009.jpg|280px|thumb|Wagner with the [[Boston Red Sox]] in 2009.]]

On August 21, 2009, the [[2009 Boston Red Sox season |Boston Red Sox]] reportedly claimed Wagner off waivers from the Mets.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Olney |first=Buster |author-link=Buster Olney |date=2009-08-21 |title=Source: Mets have 4 days to make deal |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=4415035 |website=ESPN}}</ref> After initial reports suggested Wagner would invoke his no-trade clause to veto a trade, he agreed to be traded on August 25 for [[Chris Carter (outfielder)|Chris Carter]] and Eddie Lora, with the added stipulation that the Red Sox could not exercise his $8 million option for 2010 but could offer him salary arbitration.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=4421684 |title=Mets to get two players for Wagner |date=August 26, 2009 |publisher=ESPN |access-date=September 23, 2010}}</ref> The Red Sox did offer Wagner arbitration, but he declined<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2009/12/03/wagner_gets_7m_from_braves/ |title=Wagner gets 7m from braves |date=December 3, 2009 |work=The Boston Globe |first=Amalie |last=Benjamin |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100113050003/http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2009/12/03/wagner_gets_7m_from_braves/ |archive-date=January 13, 2010 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> so the Red Sox received the first-round draft pick from the team that signed Wagner (Atlanta Braves) and a [[sandwich pick]] in the 2010 rookie draft. His only victory in a Red Sox uniform came on September 9, against the Orioles.

===Atlanta Braves===
On December 2, 2009, Wagner and the [[2010 Atlanta Braves season|Atlanta Braves]] agreed on a one-year, $7 million contract that included a $6.5-million vesting option for the [[2011 Atlanta Braves season|2011]] season.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20091202&content_id=7740258&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb |title=Braves get a new closer in Wagner |last=Bowman |first=Mark |date=December 2, 2009 |work=MLB.com |access-date=September 23, 2010}}
</ref> On April 30, 2010, Wagner said that he would retire at the end of the 2010 season to spend more time with his family.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Bowman |first=Mark |date=April 30, 2010 |title=Wagner says he'll retire after '10 |url=http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100430&content_id=9707344&vkey=news_atl&fext=.jsp&c_id=atl |url-status=dead |archive-url=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 |archive-date=May 4, 2010 |access-date=September 23, 2010 |website=MLB.com}}</ref> On June 25, Wagner earned his 400th career save. After the game, he said he still planned to retire after the season.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wagner earns 400th save as Braves knock off Detroit |url=https://www.goupstate.com/story/sports/mlb/2010/06/25/wagner-earns-400th-save-as-braves-knock-off-detroit/29829214007/ |access-date=2025-06-06 |website=Spartanburg Herald Journal |language=en-US |agency=Associated Press}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=O'Brien |first=David |date=June 25, 2010 |title=Wagner, Braves quotes after Friday’s win |url=https://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blog/2010/06/25/wagner-braves-quotes-after-fridays-win/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20100628034654/https://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blog/2010/06/25/wagner-braves-quotes-after-fridays-win/ |archive-date=2010-06-28 |work=Atlanta Journal-Constitution}}</ref> On July 11, Wagner was selected as an injury replacement to the [[2010 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|National League All-Star]] roster, which he declined due to an ankle injury.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blog/2010/07/11/wagner-declines-all-star-invite-opts-to-rest-ankle/?cxntfid=blogs_atlanta_braves_blog |title=Wagner declines All-Star invite, opts to rest ankle |last=O'Brien |first=David |date=July 11, 2010 |newspaper=AJC.com |access-date=September 23, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=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 |archive-date=July 14, 2010 |df=mdy }}</ref>

Wagner played his final regular season game on October 3 and struck out the final four batters he faced, the last three of whom [[Glossary of baseball (S)#struck out looking|struck out looking]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/ATL/ATL201010030.shtml|title=October 3, 2010 Philadelphia Phillies at Atlanta Braves Play by Play and Box Score - Baseball-Reference.com|work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=July 27, 2015}}</ref> He concluded his final season with a career-best 1.43 ERA.<ref name=jaffe121917>{{cite magazine |last=Jaffe |first=Jay |url=https://www.si.com/mlb/2017/12/19/billy-wagner-hall-fame-ballot-2018 |title=Billy Wagner's dominance gives him a surprisingly strong Hall of Fame case |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=December 19, 2017 |access-date=January 17, 2018}}</ref> Wagner made his final major league appearance on October 8 in Game 2 of the [[2010 National League Division Series|National League Division Series]] against the [[2010 San Francisco Giants season|San Francisco Giants]]. He injured his left oblique and left the game after facing just two batters. The Braves eventually lost the series before Wagner could recover.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=5664861 |title=Atlanta Braves' Billy Wagner hurts left side, leaves Game 2 vs. San Francisco Giants |work=ESPN.com |access-date=July 27, 2015}}</ref>

==Post-playing career==
Wagner retired to [[Crozet, Virginia]], following the 2010 season.<ref name=jaffe121917/> On February 12, 2011, Wagner reiterated his intention to retire, stating, "I'm totally content with not playing baseball," Wagner said. "I love watching it, I love talking about it. If I miss anything, it would be some of the guys I played with and actually competing on the field, but other than that, you can keep it."<ref>{{cite web |last=Warters |first=Nathan |date=February 13, 2011 |title=Billy Wagner says he is retired. Case closed. |url=http://www.mynewsadvance.com/index.php/vt_sports_blog/comments/billy_wagner_says_he_is_retired._case_closed/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320091054/http://www.mynewsadvance.com/index.php/vt_sports_blog/comments/billy_wagner_says_he_is_retired._case_closed/ |archive-date=March 20, 2012 |access-date=July 27, 2015 |website=The News & Advance}}</ref> On March 30, 2011, the Braves released Wagner.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-06-05 |title=Braves give release to retired closer Wagner |url=https://www.columbian.com/news/2011/mar/30/braves-give-release-to-retired-closer-wagner/ |access-date=2025-06-06 |website=The Columbian |language=en-US |agency=Associated Press}}</ref>

Wagner became the baseball coach for [[The Miller School of Albemarle]] in Virginia. He coached against his high school alma mater and his high school coach on April 6, 2013.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Davis |first=Mike |date=April 6, 2013 |title=Wagner’s new team hands loss to Tazewell |url=http://bdtonline.com/localsports/x2015920179/Wagner-s-new-team-hands-loss-to-Tazewell |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130628174247/http://bdtonline.com/localsports/x2015920179/Wagner-s-new-team-hands-loss-to-Tazewell |archive-date=2013-06-28 |work=Bluefield Daily Telegraph}}</ref> Wagner led his team to four Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association state championships.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Frey |first=Thomas |date=2025-05-19 |title=Billy Wagner wins fourth state championship as high school baseball coach two months before induction into Hall of Fame |url=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 |access-date=2025-06-06 |website=MaxPreps}}</ref>

In 2024, Wagner's son, [[Will Wagner (baseball)|Will Wagner]], debuted for the [[Toronto Blue Jays]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Davidi |first=Shi |date=2024-08-13 |title=Blue Jays' Will Wagner takes advantage of major league opportunity with strong debut |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/article/blue-jays-trade-provides-will-wagner-with-major-league-opportunity/ |access-date=2025-06-10 |website=Sportsnet}}</ref> He coached Will and his other son Kason at Miller.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hudtloff |first=Marty |date=2025-05-08 |title=Billy Wagner talks Hall of Fame & coaching sons at Miller |url=https://www.29news.com/2025/05/08/billy-wagner-talks-hall-fame-coaching-sons-miller/ |access-date=2025-06-06 |website=[[WVIR-TV|29 News]]}}</ref>

==Accomplishments and honors==
===Career perspective===
{{MLBBioRet
|Image  = Wagner-13.png
|Name   = Billy Wagner
|Team   = Houston Astros
|Number = 13
|Year   = 2025
|}}
Of all pitchers with at least 800 innings pitched, Wagner's 11.9 [[Strikeouts per nine innings pitched|K/9]] and 33.2 percent strikeout rate are both the highest in major league history. Opposing batters hit for only a .187 average against him, lowest in MLB history with at least 800 innings pitched.<ref name=jaffe121917/> Wagner's career [[Walks plus hits per inning pitched|walks and hits per nine innings]] ratio of 0.998 is the lowest among pitchers with at least 500 innings.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Boeck |first=Scott |date=2017-01-09 |title=Hall of Fame case: Billy Wagner balances lower save total with dominance |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2017/01/09/hall-fame-case-billy-wagner-balances-lower-save-total-dominance/96308024/ |access-date=2025-06-06 |website=USA Today}}</ref> 

In 2012, Wagner was inducted into the [[Virginia Sports Hall of Fame]].<ref name=":4">{{cite news |date=January 29, 2012 |title=Billy Wagner, former Ferrum baseball student-athlete, to join Virginia Sports Hall of Fame |url=https://www.usasouth.net/sports/bsb/2011-12/releases/20120130s364nc |accessdate=December 26, 2021 |work=USA South}}</ref> In 2019, he was inducted into the [[National College Baseball Hall of Fame]].<ref name=":5">{{cite web |title=2019 College Baseball Hall of Fame Inductees |url=https://www.mlb.com/college-baseball-hall-of-fame/class-of-2019 |access-date=11 April 2020 |website=[[National College Baseball Hall of Fame]]}}</ref> The following year, he was inducted into the [[Houston Astros Hall of Fame]].<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |title=Astros Hall of Fame {{!}} Billy Wagner |url=https://www.mlb.com/astros/history/hall-of-fame/inductees/billy-wagner |access-date=2025-06-10 |website=MLB.com |language=en}}</ref> The Astros announced in February 2025 that they would retire his number 13, which had been worn several times after the team traded him in 2003.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Axisa |first=Mike |date=2025-02-05 |title=Astros retiring Billy Wagner's No. 13 after closer was elected to Baseball Hall of Fame |url=https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/astros-retiring-billy-wagners-no-13-after-closer-was-elected-to-baseball-hall-of-fame/ |access-date=2025-06-10 |website=[[CBS Sports]]}}</ref>

===National Baseball Hall of Fame consideration===
Wagner first appeared on balloting for the [[National Baseball Hall of Fame]] in [[2016 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting|2016]] when he received 10.5% of the vote, well short of the 75% required for election but above the 5% minimum required to remain on the ballot. His support continued to increase: 46.4% on the [[2021 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting|2021 ballot]], 51.0% on the [[2022 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting|2022 ballot]], 68.1% of the [[2023 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting|2023 ballot]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Axisa |first=Mike |date=2023-01-25 |title=2023 Baseball Hall of Fame voting results: Scott Rolen gets in, joins Fred McGriff; Todd Helton just short |url=https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/2023-baseball-hall-of-fame-voting-results-scott-rolen-gets-in-joins-fred-mcgriff-todd-helton-just-short/ |access-date=2025-06-06 |website=CBS Sports}}</ref> and 73.8% on the [[2024 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting|2024 ballot]]. The 2024 ballot put him just five votes shy of the threshold. In [[2025 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting|2025]], his final year on the ballot, he was elected to the hall after receiving 82.5% of the vote. He became the eighth player in the modern voting era (since 1966) to be elected on his final ballot, after [[Red Ruffing]], [[Joe Medwick]], [[Ralph Kiner]], [[Jim Rice]], [[Tim Raines]], [[Edgar Martínez]], and [[Larry Walker]].<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |last=Kelly |first=Matt |date=January 22, 2025 |title=Wagner becomes 8th HOFer elected in final year on ballot |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/hall-of-famers-elected-in-final-year-on-ballot-c302974298 |access-date=2025-06-06 |website=MLB.com}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Awards and honors received by Billy Wagner
|-
!Award
!Result /<br> Section
!Year
!{{Tooltip|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
|[[National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum|National Baseball Hall of Fame]]
| style="text-align: center;" |Inducted
| style="text-align: center;" |2025
| style="text-align: center;" |<ref name=":7" />
|-
|[[Rolaids Relief Man Award|Relief Man of the Year]]
| style="text-align: center;" |
| style="text-align: center;" |1999
| style="text-align: center;" |<ref name=":3" />
|-
| [[Major League Baseball Delivery Man of the Month Award|Delivery Man of the Month]]
| style="text-align:center;" | July
| style="text-align:center;" | 2007
| style="text-align:center;" |<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/awards.php?p=wagnebi02 |title=Billy Wagner awards |work=[[Baseball Almanac]] |accessdate=December 26, 2021}}</ref>
|-
| colspan="2" | [[Houston Astros]] Rookie of the Year 
| style="text-align:center;" | [[1996 Houston Astros season|1996]]
| rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;" |<ref name="mlbbio">{{cite web |url=https://www.mlb.com/player/billy-wagner-123790 |title=Billy Wagner #13 |work=MLB.com |accessdate=December 26, 2021}}</ref>
|-
| colspan="2" | Houston Astros Pitcher of the Year
| style="text-align:center;" | [[2003 Houston Astros season|2003]]
|-
|[[Houston Astros Hall of Fame]]
|Inducted
| style="text-align: center;" |2020
| style="text-align: center;" |<ref name=":6" />
|-
|[[National College Baseball Hall of Fame]]
|Inducted
| style="text-align: center;" |2019
| style="text-align: center;" |<ref name=":5" />
|-
|[[Virginia Sports Hall of Fame and Museum]]
|Inducted
|2012
|<ref name=":4" />
|-
|[[Ferrum College#Athletics|Ferrum College]] Hall of Fame
|Inducted
| style="text-align: center;" |2003
| style="text-align: center;" |<ref name=":0" />
|-
|}

==See also==
{{Portal|Baseball|Virginia|Biography}}
{{div col}}
* [[Houston Astros award winners and league leaders]]
* [[List of Houston Astros no-hitters]]
* [[List of Houston Astros team records]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball career games finished leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball career games played as a pitcher leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball career saves leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball no-hitters]]
{{div col end}}
{{clear}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{sister project links|auto=yes}}
{{baseballstats|mlb=123790|espn=3375|br=w/wagnebi02|fangraphs=578|brm=wagner002wil|retro=W/Pwagnb001}}

{{s-start-collapsible|header={{s-ach|ach}}}}
{{succession box|title=[[List of Major League Baseball no-hitters|No-hit game]] |before=[[Kevin Millwood]]| years= June 11, 2003<br> (with [[Roy Oswalt|Oswalt]], [[Pete Munro|Munro]], [[Kirk Saarloos|Saarloos]], [[Brad Lidge|Lidge]] & [[Octavio Dotel|Dotel]]) |after=[[Randy Johnson]]}}
{{succession box| before = [[Ryan Madson]]| title = [[Phillies Annual Franchise Awards|Steve Carlton Most Valuable Pitcher]] | years = 2005 | after = [[Tom Gordon]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Navboxes
|title = Articles related to Billy Wagner
|list1=
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}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wagner, Billy}}
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