Billy Wagner

At 53 years old, Billy Wagner has this physical status:

William Edward Wagner (born in Marion, Virginia, July 25, 1971) also known as "Billy the Kid" is an American former professional baseball pitcher who played 16 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB).

He pitched for the Houston Astros (1995–2003), Philadelphia Phillies (2004–2005), and the New York Mets (2006–2009), and the Atlanta Braves (2010).

Wagner is one of just six major league relief pitchers to have at least 400 saves in a career.

Wagner, a left-handed batter and thrower, stands 5 foot 10 inches (1.78 m) tall and weighs 180 pounds (82 kg). Wagner, a natural-born right-hander, learned to throw left-handed after fracturing his arm twice in his youth in Marion.

His 11.9 strikeouts per 9 innings pitched ratio (K/9) is the highest of any major league pitcher with at least 800 innings pitched.

He was a seven-time All-Star and the 1999 National League (NL) Rolaids Relief Man Award winner.

He has appeared in the top ten saves in the Netherlands ten times, and in the top ten in games finished nine times.

Early life

On July 25, 1971, Wagner married 16-year-old Yvonne and William "Hotrod" Wagner in Marion, Virginia. When Wagner was five years old, his parents divorced in 1976. Chasity Wagner and his younger sister spent the next ten years in the general Marion area living with a mix of their parents, their stepfathers, and grandparents. During this period, Wagner and his family were often dependent on food stamps. Wagner described a common breakfast as a "few crackers with peanut butter and a glass of water."

Wagner's right arm was fractured while playing football at seven years old. He broke the arm again just after being had the cast removed. Wagner, a natural right-hander, started throwing a baseball left-handed during this period.

Wagner, a 14-year-old boy, and cousins who lived in the Tannersville/Tazewell area about 25 miles (40 km) away from Marion, moved in with his aunt, uncle, and cousins. Despite being behind on a year in school due to family unrest, Wagner was formally welcomed to Tazewell High School by administrators because he was afraid to throw enough to injure his middle school classmates.

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Career

Wagner, a senior baseball pitcher from Tazewell High School in Tazewell, Virginia, earned a.451 batting average, 23 stolen bases, 29 runs batted in, 116 strikeouts in 46 innings, a 7-1 pitching record, and a 1.52 ERA in his sophomore season. Wagner grew to just 5 feet 5 inches (1.65 m) high and 135 pounds (61 kg) as a senior in high school, and as a result, he was not able to attract interest from Major League Baseball scouts or Division I schools.

Wagner opted to follow his cousin to Ferrum College, a small liberal arts college in Ferrum, Virginia, where they both played baseball and football. Wagner's coach, John Ferrum, urged him to concentrate on baseball, but they later learned that he would not play football and stop playing football.

With 19+13 in 1992, Wagner set single-season NCAA records for strikeouts per nine innings, with 19+13 in 1992 and the fewest hits allowed per nine innings being 1.88. He played collegiate summer baseball with the Cape Cod Whitecaps of the Southern Cape Cod Baseball League (CCBL), and is a member of the 2022 Class of Fame.

Wagner was inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in 2012, in 2012.

The Houston Astros selected Wagner in the first round of the Major League Baseball draft in June 1993. He appeared in Minor League Baseball for the Quad Cities River Bandits until his first appearance in the major leagues. Wagner was the best pitcher in the North American minor leagues in strikeouts in 1994, with 204. In a 10–5 loss to the New York Mets, Wagner made his first Major League appearance with the Astros as a late-season promotion from AAA baseball. This was his first opportunity to pitch for the Astros this season.

Wagner started in 1996, making him a starting pitcher in the minor leagues, but he finished the season by becoming a relief pitcher for the Astros. In twelve starts for the AAA Tucson Toros, he set a record of 6–2 in a 3.28 ERA. Wagner was signed by the Astros exclusively as a short-relief pitcher, and by the Astros' manager, he was released on June 2, 1996. He made nine saves in 13 appearances, 28 hits, and batting out 67 batters in 51+223 innings, giving him a rate of 11.7 strikeouts per nine innings pitched. His opponents had a batting average of.165 against him.

Wagner played his first full season in the Major Leagues in 1997. He made 23 saves out of 29 save chances, and he smashed out 106 batters in 66+13 innings. This was a Major League record of 14.4 strikeouts per nine innings, beating Rob Dibble's previous record of 14.1 innings (with 110 strikeouts in 70+1/3 innings).

In his 66 innings pitched, Wagner struck out 13 times, setting a Houston Astros record for relief pitchers.

Wagner set a record in 1998, with a 2.70 ERA and 97 strikeouts in 60 innings pitched. He played 30 games, his third-best single season in team history. On April 12, he saved his first blown save against the Los Angeles Dodgers, and then against the St. Louis Cardinals on July 11.

Wagner was struck by a batted ball on the left side of his head behind his ear on July 15, 1998, while covering an 8–7 lead over the Arizona Diamondbacks. Wagner was alert and alert on the ground, and his vital signs remained strong. On a stretcher, he was carried off the baseball diamond, but it was discovered that he had sustained a concussion. He stayed in the hospital for the night. He returned home to Houston on the next day and was then placed on baseball's 15-day disabled list. Wagner worked on his balance and coordination for weeks before being cleared by the team's doctors to begin a minor-league assignment. Wagner was called to the Astros on August 6 and spent the remainder of the baseball season undefeated. Since winning the National League Central division championship and leading the league in runs scored, the Astros won a franchise-best 102 games. In the National League Division Series, the San Diego Padres' season came to an end.

In the National League, Wagner received the 1999 Relief Man of the Year award. In 74 innings, he accumulated 39 games and struck out 124 (14 strikeouts per 9 innings). Wagner had a 4.57 ERA and had more saves than hits allowed in 74+2/3 innings (he allowed 35 hits).

Wagner's 2000 season began in a sprightly manner for the Astros' first four victories while retiring 16 of the first 20 batters he faced. However, after recording a save against the Chicago Cubs on May 4, the Reds recorded back-to-back blown saves on May 12-13. Although he was still throwing 100 m.p.h., he was still throwing 100 m.p.h. He was not throwing his slider at 85–90 m.p.h., as determined by radar. He had been going to the hospital as often as he had been before. Wagner continued to fail before being placed on the disabled list with a torn flexor tendon in his pitching arm, and he will miss the final three and a half months of the season. He went out of 2–4 runs, a 6.18 ERA, and six saves in 15 chances, striking out 28 and walking 18 in 7+2’3 innings. In 2001, he would return to form. With 39 saves in 41 chances and an ERA of 2.73, he made a record of 2–5 after elbow surgery. He was one of the leading candidates for the National League's Best Comeback Player of the Year award. He struck out 79 batters in 62+2/3 innings.

Wagner went 4–2 in 2002 with a 2.52 ERA, 88 strikeouts, and 35 saves in 75 innings. Then had his best season in 2003, when he hit career-highs in saves (44), innings pitched (86) and games (78), and had 105 strikeouts when leading the league in games finished. He also established himself as the hardest-throwing man in baseball by leading the major leagues with 159 pitches at 100 mph or above. Bartolo Colón, a newbie on the list, came in second, with 12.

Wagner struck out a no-hitter against the New York Yankees on June 11, 2003.

Wagner chastised the Astros front office for failing to create a playoff worthy squad following the World Series. Billy Wagner was told by the Philadelphia Phillies on November 3 that he had been traded to the Philadelphia Phillies.

Before the 2004 season, Wagner was drafted to Philadelphia, but his season was cut short due to a strain in his hand. In 2005, he had his best ERA of his career and was second in games finished and finished third. Wagner became a free agent after the 2005 season and signed a four-year, $43 million deal, as well as a one-year club option with the New York Mets.

Wagner said in a May 7, 2006 interview, he was confronted by all of his former Phillies teammates in September 2005 after he had repeatedly stated that the Phillies had "no chance" of making the playoffs, despite losing out on the playoffs by a single game. According to reports, this was one of many reasons that brought Wagner from Philadelphia during the 2005–2006 offseason.

Wagner made his 2006 debut with 40 saves and a 2.24 ERA. His appearance helped the Mets win their first division championship in 18 years. However, he did not have a good post-season: he had three saves but allowed six runs in the 5+2 innings he pitched, but that was on a ERA of 10.40.

In 2007, Wagner had a good first half of the season. He had a chance to win 17 out of 18 save chances, but his ERA was 1.94. July was his best month in eight chances; did not allow a run to score; and he won the D.H.L. The "Delivery Man of the Month" Award is given. Wagner's ERA was 0.00, he gave up two runs, and he pitched enough innings to be comparable to a complete game pitched during that month. His success earned him a spot on the National League All-Star Team.

Wagner's second half of the season was not as good. He converted 13 out of 17 save opportunities, and his ERA was 3.90. During the first two months of the season, Wagner's pitching results decreased. Wagner failed to save the Phillies' crucial fourth game of a four-game series on August 30, a crucial fourth game in a four-game series between the Phillies and Mets. The Phillies won by a four-game sweep in the final standing. The Mets came out a game behind the Phillies at the end of the regular season, capping off a seven-game absence. The Mets would have won the division that year thanks to one more victory over the Phillies.

Wagner had an ERA of 6.23 in August of this season, and he suffered from back spasms in September.

Following the Mets' 1–0 loss in a game against the Washington Nationals on May 15, 2008, Wagner released a tirade full of profanity against his coworkers and coaches. Any one has speculated that this was directed in particular at his coworkers Carlos Beltrán and Carlos Delgado for their inability to attend press interviews following games. However, Wagner's pitching results in April, May, and June was good enough to warrant him to be selected by the All-Star Game's National League manager for his pitching staff.

Wagner, a game-tying double to Evan Longoria, the American league's third baseman, forfeited a game-tying double during this All-Star Game, and then the National League lost the ballgame in 15 innings.

Wagner's left elbow's ulnar collateral ligament ligament tear, as well as his flexor pronator tendon, was revealed in September 2008. Tommy John surgery was required due to Tommy John's injury. Wagner has been out of action for a calendar year after this surgery and its recovery.

Wagner had a signed-pay baseball deal, and the Mets paid him $10.5 million. For the 2010 baseball season, his deal gave the Mets the ability to pay him $8 million for the season or another guy to pay him $1 million to end the contract.

Wagner vowed to return to playing Major League Baseball following the news of his major elbow injury. Though Wagner had previously stated that he did not expect to pitch anymore after 2009, he changed course and said that he did not intend to end his baseball career in this manner by avoiding it due to a major injury. He also said that he had aspirations of winning a World Series and also that he had a goal of winning a World Series and that he had a goal of achieving a total of about 420 saves in his career.

Wagner also said he had "played his last [baseball] game as a Met." Wagner said that it would not make good business sense for the Mets to promise him $8 million for 2009, pitching or not pitching.

Given these details, Wagner remained on the Mets' 40-man roster and still receiving his paycheck at the start of the season in 2009 and is still receiving his salary. On August 20, he pitched for the first time in 2009 for the Mets late in the season, against the Atlanta Braves. He pitched one inning with two strikeouts and no hits or walks.

Wagner off waivers from the Mets was announced by the Boston Red Sox on August 21, 2009. After initial reports that Wagner would use his no-trade clause to veto a trade, he decided to be traded on August 25 for Chris Carter and Eddie Lora, with the added stipulation that the Red Sox would not use his $8 million option for 2010 rather than offering salary arbitration. Wagner was accepted by the Red Sox, but the Red Sox did not have Wagner arbitration, so the Red Sox received the first-round draft pick from the team that traded Wagner (Atlanta Braves) and a sandwich pick in the 2010 rookie draft. The Orioles defeated the Red Sox for their first match in a Red Sox uniform on September 9.

Wagner and the Atlanta Braves decided on a one-year deal worth $7 million that included a $6.5 million vesting option for the 2011 season on December 2, 2009. Wagner announced on April 30, 2010 that he would retire at the end of the 2010 season to spend more time with his family. Wagner made his 400th appearance in a game against the Detroit Tigers on June 25, his 400th career save. He told reporters that he still wants to leave after the 2010 season. Wagner was chosen as an injury replacement to the 2010 National League All-Star roster on July 11, but he was forced to miss due to an ankle injury.

He played his last regular season game on October 3, 2010, and knocked out the last four batters he faced – the last three of whom were dead looking. He finished his final big league regular season with a career-best 1.43 ERA. Wagner made his final major league appearance against the San Francisco Giants in Game 2 of the 2010 National League Division Series on October 8. After facing just two batters, Wagner sustained an injury to his left oblique and left the game early. Wagner was eventually dropped from the series before Wagner could recover.

Post-playing career

Following the 2010 season, Wagner resigned to Crozet, Virginia.

Wagner reiterated his desire to retire on February 12, 2011, saying, "I'm completely content not playing baseball." Wagner said on February 12, 2011. "I love watching it and I love hearing about it." If I miss anything, it would be some of the guys I played with and actually playing on the field, but other than that, you can keep it."

Wagner was officially released by the Braves on March 30, 2011. Billy Wagner is now the Baseball Coach at The Miller School of Albemarle, Virginia. On April 6, 2013, he tutored against his high school alma mater and his own high school coach. The Mavericks captured the 2017 and 2018 Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association Division II championship.

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