Houston Astros Publicly Make Hall of Fame Campaign for Former Closer

Conversations about who should and should not make baseball's Hall of Fame will start back up again as the 2024 ballot was released on Nov. 20.

There are 12 first timers who are on the ballot, 14 returners and only one player, Gary Sheffield, who is in his last year of eligibility. To be inducted into the Hall of Fame, players must receive at least 75% of the vote.

The Houston Astros saw one of their former relievers, Billy Wagner, come close in 2023, finishing with 68.1%.

Now, the Astros are publicly advocating for Wagner to receive the necessary number of votes. In a social media post, they laid out the case for the left-handed closer to be enshrined in Cooperstown.

Amongst Hall of Famers, his opponents' batting average of .187 would be the lowest, his 11.92 K/9 and 5.99 H/9 ratios would be the best. He also would have the second-lowest ERA of 2.31, third-highest save percentage with 85.9% and fourth-most saves with 422.

Billy Wagner deserves to be in Cooperstown. pic.twitter.com/4Z5ivPG8DD
— Houston Astros (@astros) November 20, 2023

Houston selected Wagner in the first round of the 1993 MLB Draft. He made is debut in 1995 when appearing in one game. He became a full-time Major Leaguer the following season and immediately started showing dominance.

Wagner spent nine seasons with the Astros from 1995-2003, becoming a three-time All-Star.

He also had his career best year in 1999, winning the Relief Man of the Year Award. He recorded 39 saves and struck out 124 batters across 74 2/3 innings pitched, and posted an ERA of 1.57. His total saves that season were more than the 35 hits that he allowed as he finished fourth in Cy Young voting.

After the closer left Houston, he spent seven more years in Major League Baseball with the Philadelphia Phillies, New York Mets, Boston Red Sox and Atlanta Braves.

He finished his career as a seven-time All-Star and is the eighth pitcher ever to have 400 or more saves.

It's unknown whether Wagner will be enshrined with an Astros cap on, but that isn't stopping the team from publicly campaigning for him to be inducted.