Top 5 Hall Of Fame: Billy Wagner

 

On July 27th, the Hall of Fame will officially recognize 5 new members. As I have done in years past, I will be honoring these great ball players in my own way throughout the week. We finish off the week celebrating one of the top reliever's in baseball history, Billy Wagner. I only own 3 cards of his, so in tribute to his extraordinary career, I humbly present those 3 cards, as well as two personal favorites:

 

1994 Collector's Choice #29 Billy Wagner (FRDP, RC)

Hey look at that! I have his rookie card! Wagner was the 12th overall pick in 1993, and made his MLB debut towards the end of the 1995 season.

 

1997 Collector's Choice

#123 Billy Wagner

 

Wagner became the closer for Houston in 1997, and outside a brief partial season in Boston, was the closer every year for every team he played on over the next 14 years. In all, he was named to 7 All-Star teams.

 

1997 Upper Deck #81 Billy Wagner

Wagner held onto that closer's role because he was just flat out dominant. Over the course of his career, he struck out over a third of every batter he faced, and his 11.92 K/9 is the best all-time (minimum 800IP). His career WHIP is also an all-time record for relievers (700IP minimum). 

 

1998 Topps #3 Billy Wagner 

 

His rate stats are historic, which makes his induction all the more interesting. Wagner currently 8th all-time in saves, but do you know how many times he led his league in that category? Zero. In fact, he only made the top 3 in any given season thrice. But again, he was dominant, and if ever there was a definition of a closer putting out fires, Wagner fit the bill.

 

2009 Topps Heritage #632 Billy Wagner

Like I said before, he had a brief stop in Boston towards the end of his career. Of course I had to include one of the few cards he has wearing the "B"! He pitched in 15 games for the Red Sox in his penultimate season as a setup man to closer Jonathan Papelbon.

 

Wagner is not your typical hall of Famer. He never led the league in any major categories, and his 903 innings pitched is the lowest amount among any of the pitchers enshrined. Still, when it came to getting opponents out, few were better.

 

Congrats to Billy Wagner! Welcome to the Hall!