Billy Wagner's quest for Hall of Fame recognition faces another setback as he falls short of the required 75% vote threshold for the tenth and final time. Despite impressive career statistics and comparisons to fellow Hall of Famer Trevor Hoffman, the lack of a higher save total appears to be the primary obstacle for Wagner's induction.
Billy Wagner is on the Hall of Fame ballot for the tenth and final time. He received 73.8% of the votes last year, falling just five votes short of induction. In 2023, his support dropped to 68.1%. Wagner's career began with a modest 10.5% support. Over his 16-year career with five teams, primarily the Houston Astros, Wagner amassed the sixth-most saves in MLB history. He earned seven All-Star selections, a Reliever of the Year award, and garnered MVP and Cy Young votes multiple times.
His impressive career stats include an ERA of 2.31 and 422 saves, along with an average of 11.9 strikeouts per nine innings. While Wagner played in seven postseasons, he never reached the World Series and struggled in 14 playoff games with a 10.03 ERA. A comparison with Hall of Fame reliever Trevor Hoffman reveals that Wagner boasts nearly 150 fewer pitching innings, a significantly lower ERA (nearly half a run better), and more strikeouts (60 more) despite the fewer innings pitched. Wagner also had fewer walks (7 fewer) in those 150 fewer innings. Hoffman holds the edge in total saves (601 to Wagner's 422), but Wagner maintains a slightly higher save percentage (86% to 89%). This difference in voters' choices seemingly boils down to the save count. Further comparisons highlight Wagner's dominance over opposing hitters, with a lower batting average against (.187) and a higher strikeout rate (33.2%) compared to Hoffman. If Hoffman's qualifications are deemed sufficient for Hall induction, then Wagner's case becomes even stronger. However, adhering to this logic could potentially lead to the recognition of numerous players who might not otherwise meet the standards for Hall of Fame inclusion
HALL OF FAME BILLY WAGNER MLB RELEIVER STATISTICS
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