'I hope this is the year': Wagner on 9th chance at Cooperstown

NEW YORK -- Billy Wagner was a dominant closer from 1997-2010, and he has the stats to back up that statement. Two obvious examples: His 422 career saves are the sixth most in MLB history, and his 1,196 strikeouts are a league record for a left-handed reliever.

Yet, Wagner continues to wait for a call from the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Wagner is in his ninth year of eligibility. This past January, he received 68.1 percent of the vote, which was short of the 75 percent needed to be elected into Cooperstown.

The Baseball Writers' Association of America voters have until Dec. 31 to cast their ballots. The results will be announced Jan. 23 on MLB Network. Will Wagner's ninth time be the charm?

Wagner said that he feels if he is not elected in 2024, he won't get voted in by the writers in his final year of eligibility. However, he will have a chance to be elected to Cooperstown by the Contemporary Baseball Era Committee. Wagner is already in the Astros and Virginia Sports Halls of Fame.

“I have no clear indication that [2024] will be the year,” Wagner said via telephone. “I talked to people who do some of the projections. They were like, ‘Oh, this could be a nailbiter.’ … It’s unbelievably crazy how hard people are trying to figure out who the guys are [when it comes to getting into the Hall of Fame].

“I’ve done everything I could. If I have to go out there and talk to you about pleading my case, I feel like, really, my numbers weren't good enough. I hope this is the year. … If it’s not, my life is not going to change. I’m still going to be a high school baseball coach.”

Wagner’s numbers are good enough for election into Cooperstown. He was a shutdown closer with a fastball that was often clocked in the high 90s while playing for the Astros, Phillies, Mets, Red Sox and Braves.

His numbers also compare favorably to other Cooperstown closers. Wagner’s 2.31 ERA as a reliever is lower than Hall of Famers such as Trevor Hoffman, Dennis Eckersley, Rollie Fingers and Hoyt Wilhelm. Wagner ended his career with an ERA+ of 187. Only Mariano Rivera had a higher number, with a 205 ERA+.

But the stat Wagner is most proud of is opponents' batting average. Opposing hitters batted just .187 against the left-hander.

“When I stepped on the field, it was unlikely the opposing hitter was going to get a hit,” Wagner said. “As a closer, I think that is the ultimate way to say, ‘I’m as dominant as there ever [was].’ I don’t know if there is [anything] better. I know at that point, when I stepped on the field, people knew it wasn’t going to be easy.”

Wagner retired on top after the 2010 season. At 38 years old, he had 37 saves and a 1.43 ERA with the Braves in his final season. Wagner retired because he wanted to spend more time with his family in Virginia.

“I don’t know if there is ever a good time to retire,” Wagner said. “ … For me, it was an easy thing, because my kids were at a point where they were getting ready to go into that middle school, high school age. I wanted to be there to guide and support them. They get to know me as a father.”

Wagner credits a lot of people for his success in baseball, but he pointed to former Astros manager Larry Dierker for making him a full-time closer starting in 1997. After he was named skipper in the fall of '96, Dierker traveled to Puerto Rico to visit Wagner, who was playing winter ball. There was still a possibility of Wagner being a starter, but Dierker asked Wagner what he wanted to do the following season, and Wagner didn’t have to think twice: He wanted to be the man in the ninth inning.

“When I told Larry I would rather be the closer, he said, ‘OK.’ That was pretty much as simple as it could be,” Wagner remembered. “Through all my ups and downs, Larry stuck with me. You must have somebody that has your back.”

However, baseball observers do not have Wagner’s back when it comes to the postseason. In 14 October games, Wagner recorded three saves -- all coming as a member of the Mets in 2006 -- with a forgettable 10.03 ERA.

“It would have been great to appear in 96 games in the postseason like Mariano. That would be fantastic,” Wagner said. “Then, you can turn around and say [I] suck. You can’t really say I sucked when I was three for [three] in save opportunities. My job is to get saves. My ERA is terrible. I have only [11 2/3] innings. It’s an easy target to be pointed at. You can look at Trevor in the same fashion.”

Don’t look for Wagner to go on a promotional tour during the month of December to talk about his big league career. He is too busy being a family man and making sure that Miller School of Albemarle in Charlottesville, Va., has a great baseball team. Wagner is in his 12th season as the baseball coach for the school.

“I really enjoy that side of baseball, I really enjoy coaching,” Wagner said. “It’s probably one of my favorite things, and being able to tie it into my kids. Because of being home, it’s a good thing, too. I’ve been very lucky and fortunate to call it my fallback plan.”