Billy Wagner’s painful wait for the Hall of Fame finally ends: ‘I’m just glad it’s over’
Billy Wagner, facing his final opportunity to be inducted into baseball’s hall of fame in Cooperstown, New York, finally surpassed the 75% threshold to secure his place in history, earning 82.5% support from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America on the ballot released Tuesday evening, just one year after falling short by a mere five votes.
Since the eligibility period for the Hall of Fame ballot was reduced from 15 years to 10 years prior to the 2015 election, it has become increasingly common for players to secure induction on their last chance.
In 2017, center fielder Tim Raines made a significant jump to 86% in his 10th year. Four years later, designated hitter Edgar Martinez reached 85.4% after only garnering 70% in his previous year.
Furthermore, in 2020, Larry Walker – arguably the top all-around player among this group – barely made it with 76.6% support, a considerable increase from 54.4% the year before.
Wagner didn’t require a dramatic surge, just a nice favor from fate. However, for a relief pitcher with 422 saves, which do not rank him among the highest, and whose impressive 11.9 strikeouts per nine innings come from shorter outings rather than lengthy appearances, the wait proved to be difficult.
When Wagner found out that this 5-foot-10 lefty from the rugged rural area of southwest Virginia was going to Cooperstown, it was an overwhelming moment of emotion.
Having his career scrutinized – from stats to achievements and the ever-elusive “makeup” evaluated by scouts, fans, and media – was a taxing experience for Wagner. This 10th attempt was possibly the hardest.
Yet, it also yielded the best results.
“When you start dealing with character and elements beyond your control, it’s the toughest part,” Wagner shared during a media conference call on Tuesday evening. “The process isn’t fair. In an era where we can dive deeper into statistics, it becomes challenging. I’m an emotional person by nature. These matters resonate deeply. They feel a bit more personal when you have fought so hard to achieve your goals.
“For me, I’m just glad it’s over.”
Wagner became the first left-handed relief pitcher elected to the Hall of Fame, and he acknowledged the unusual aspects of his journey. He played college baseball at the Division III level at Ferrum College.
He comes from a region of Virginia that lacks the historic richness in baseball talent seen around the Chesapeake Bay, which has produced numerous All-Stars – he’s closer to the borders of West Virginia, Tennessee, and Kentucky than to the more prominent areas that inspire bigger dreams.
His first major league game only came after he had proven himself in the Cape Cod League, where he managed to attend a game at Fenway Park.
This week, when he attends media engagements in Cooperstown, it will mark his inaugural visit to the Hall of Fame.
He was close in his early career: Wagner started in the New York-Penn League, where he pitched seven games for Auburn, including one at Oneonta, a Yankees affiliate about half an hour from Cooperstown.
Despite successfully ascending through four minor league levels, enjoying a 16-year career, amassing 422 saves, achieving an astonishing average of 12 strikeouts per nine innings, and being selected to seven All-Star games – he still had to endure nine years for the ultimate recognition at Cooperstown.
Indeed, the process is fragile, often subject to scrutiny, especially when Wagner hung up his cleats in 2010 to focus more on family and guide his children’s baseball journeys.
His son, Will Wagner, currently plays infield for the Blue Jays, and Wagner frequently mentioned how vital his family was in navigating his Hall of Fame journey. He has never regretted stepping back from the spotlight, even if his stats weren’t overly impressive by some conventional metrics.
The culmination of this journey came on Tuesday afternoon as he went about his day, tending to errands and grabbing lunch.
Yet, in the midst of it all, he felt a profound shift.
“I felt like time stood still,” Wagner recounted about the anticipation of receiving the Hall call – or the crushing silence that could mean rejection. “There were moments today when emotions were high.
“From 2 to about 5:15, time felt sluggish. It was tough to maintain control. This day is a celebration for all of us – we got through this process. Now, I can finally enjoy some food and take in the events over the coming days.”
The journey can be arduous, as outfielder Andruw Jones, who earned 66.2% support on ballots Tuesday, may also learn two years from now as he awaits his own 10th chance for nomination.
However, Wagner will now forever be able to sign autographs as “Hall of Famer.” The grueling wait had a tremendous reward at the end.
Now coaching baseball at a private school in Charlottesville, Wagner will stand as an inspiration for shorter pitchers, Division III aspirants, and those from far-off places often overlooked by scouts.
“Those experiences,” he reflects, “carry significant meaning.”
