Houston Astros legend Billy Wagner fell just short of making the Baseball Hall of Fame recently, losing out by just five votes. Wagner has one more year of candidacy remaining for 2025, and his support has been climbing.
In Florida, at Reggie Jackson’s Mr. October Foundation Celebrity Golf Classic, KPRC 2 asked a handful of Wagner contemporaries, including two Baseball Hall of Famers, if Wagner should be in the Hall of Fame.
JEFF BAGWELL - HALL OF FAMER
Wagner’s teammate from 1995-2003, Bagwell saw Wagner’s dominance first hand.
“It’s bizarre, I think Billy gets hurt when sometimes they say the old relievers threw three innings, but over the last 25 years, the guys throw one inning. He’s the best that did it, along with Mariano (Rivera) and Trevor (Hoffman).
GARY SHEFFIELD
“No question (he should get in). I talked to him before, he called me and I told him whatever happens, happens. Definitely he deserved it.”
IVAN RODRIGUEZ - HALL OF FAMER
“Absolutely (he’s a Hall of Famer), the numbers say it. Obviously one of the best closers in the game, very powerful pitcher for his size, he’s 5-foot-10 like me. He was durable, he didn’t get hurt much and was always available. When you have a lefty like that who throws almost 100 MPH, being a closer, he was great. He should be in the Hall of Fame, and hopefully in the future he should be part of the family.
ALBERT PUJOLS
“I believe (he is a Hall of Famer), I think he’s going to get a chance to get in there, unfortunately it’s taken him a little while.”
Wagner retired with 422 saves, which is 6th all-time. Wagner also finished his career with a 2.31 ERA. His 9th year of Hall of Fame balloting yielded 73.8% of the vote. Player need 75% to make the Hall of Fame.