Lucky #13: Will this be the year Billy Wagner makes the Hall of Fame?
Closer Billy Wagner only played for the Atlanta Braves for one season, but it was the best year of his career. In his 16th and final season in the MLB, Wagner went out with a bang as he finished with a 7-2 record and a 1.43 ERA for the 2010 Braves. He appeared in 71 games and pitched 69.1 innings as he struck out 104 hitters and only walked three. Yes, you read that right. Out of 268 batters faced, he only walked three.
That just goes to show how great of a pitcher he was. He had ice in his veins coming out of the bullpen. In his ninth attempt at entering the Hall of Fame, MLB writers Manny Randhawa, Paul Casella, and Brian Murphy all claimed that he will get the call to the Hall of Fame this year.
Over a career that spanned 16 years, he only had an ERA above 3.00 ONCE. That is unheard of. The year 2000 was the only time he finished with an ERA higher than 3.00. He finished that year 2-4 with a 6.18 ERA and only appeared in 28 games. That season he was placed on the injured list with a torn flexor tendon in his throwing arm. That caused him to miss the final three and a half months of the season.
From 1995 (Wagner and Mariano Rivera’s debut seasons) through 2010 (Wagner’s final season), Rivera led all relievers in fWAR with 34.9. Wagner ranked second with 24.1, and Trevor Hoffman ranked third with 24.0.
2024 Hall of Fame Ballot voting by @NotMrTibbs
If the early returns of 2024 voting are any indication, Wagner is sitting in a good spot so far as he has 72% of the votes. You need 75% to make the Hall of Fame and with only 13% of votes known, there is a good chance that his number will jump at least 3%.
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