It was touch and go for Billy Wagner, but when all was said and done, and the final votes were tallied, the former Philadelphia Phillies closer earned a place in the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
In his 10th and final year on the ticket, Wagner had 85.6 percent of the vote from 205 known public ballots going into Tuesday evening's Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA) balloting results announcement from Cooperstown, NY. Candidates require at least 75 percent to be elected.
Former Phillies closer Billy Wagner elected to Hall of Fame on 82.5% of ballots
Usually, unknown votes bring the percentages down on election night. Thanks to Ryan Thibodaux's Hall of Fame Tracker, we know that Wagner needed 109 votes from the remaining unknown ballots to have his plaque hung. Last year, Wagner finished with 73.8 percent of votes — an agonizing five ballots shy. He was finally elected to the Hall of Fame with 82.5 percent of the vote this year.
The 2025 Hall of Fame class also includes first-year candidates Ichiro Suzuki (99.7 percent) and CC Sabathia (86.8 percent). Phillies icon Dick Allen will also join this class, along with Dave Parker, after being elected by the Classic Baseball Era Committee in December.
The other former Phillies on the ballot didn't fare as well as Wagner. None of Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins or Bobby Abreu received enough votes for election. All three will return to the ballot for the 2026 class.
Billy Wagner had a short but impressive Phillies career
Wagner, now 53, only spent two seasons in Philadelphia, so it would be a massive shock if he chooses to go into the Hall of Fame as a Phillie. That honor will go to the Houston Astros, where the left-hander spent nine seasons from 1995 to 2003 before being traded to Philadelphia. He also spent time with the New York Mets, Boston Red Sox and Atlanta Braves.
Over his two years with the Phillies, Wagner threw 126 innings, compiling an 8-3 record, a 1.86 ERA, a 0.81 WHIP and recording 59 of his 422 career saves. He was an All-Star in his second season in red pinstripes, an honor he earned seven times over his 16-year career.
The former first-round draft pick threw 903 innings in his career, finishing with a 2.31 ERA, a 1.00 WHIP, and a 24 fWAR, while his 422 saves are the sixth-most all-time in MLB. He recorded over half of those (225) in an Astros uniform. Wagner appeared in seven postseasons, none of which were with the Phillies, but never made it to the World Series.
Wagner will be inducted at the 2025 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Sunday, July 27, at the Clark Sports Center in Cooperstown.