To gain entry to the Baseball Hall of Fame, Billy Wagner completed a climb few candidates have managed. Wagner, the former Houston Astros closer, attained the 75% support from voters required for election in his final year of eligibility on the writers’ ballot.

Billy Wagner fell short of election to the Baseball Hall of Fame last year in agonizing fashion. Five votes separated the former Houston Astros closer from securing a place in Cooperstown in his penultimate appearance on the writers’ ballot.

In his 10th and final year on the ballot, former Astros closer Billy Wagner earned is place in Cooperstown, N.Y. in the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

On January 21, 2025, all-time great closer Billy Wagner was elected to the Hall of Fame. A version of this story originally ran in December 2020.

Houston Astros reliever Billy Wagner made it into the Baseball Hall of Fame on his final year to be on the ballot.

After falling five votes short of Baseball Hall of Fame last year, Billy Wagner is hopeful on his final year on ballot.

Former Houston Astros closer Billy Wagner reveals his thoughts after being chosen into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Flamethrowing left-hander Billy Wagner earned his spot in the Baseball Hall of Fame on Tuesday night, officially getting elected on his 10th and final time on t

In a video posted on X by sports writer Jose de Jesus Ortiz, Wagner leaned against a pool table while taking the call. He listened for more than 15 seconds before he put his hand on his face, fighting tears and hunching over. “Thank you,” he eventually said to the person on the other end of the phone.

The distance from Ferrum, Virginia to Cooperstown, New York is a road far longer than just the miles between the two small towns.For Billy Wagner, it's a journe

Former Houston Astros pitcher Billy Wagner, one of the best relief pitchers in the 1990s and 2000s, was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Billy Wagner fell just five votes short of induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame last January, making 2025 his 10th and final eligible year on the ballot for enshrinement in Cooperstown. The former Houston Astros closer finally broke through Tuesday night.