Billy Wagner misses out on National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2nd-to-last year of eligibility

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Billy Wagner, who spent the first eight years of his career closing out games as Houston's ninth-inning relief pitcher, was passed over for induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame on Tuesday evening.

Wagner drew 73.8% of the vote from the Baseball Writers Association of America. MLB Network reports that he was five votes shy of the required 75% threshold.
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Adrian Beltre, Joe Mauer, and Todd Helton were the 2024 inductees.

Wagner, whom the Houston Astros selected 12th overall in the 1993 MLB Amateur Draft, was denied entry into the coveted hall in Cooperstown, New York, in his second-to-last year of eligibility.

Wagner was on 10.5% of ballots when he was first eligible in 2016. The seven-time All-Star is sixth in career saves with 422, going 47-40 with a 2.31 ERA in 16 seasons. A left-handed reliever, he struck out 1,196 in 903 innings with Houston (1995-2003), Philadelphia (2004-05), the New York Mets (2006-09), Boston (2009) and Atlanta (2010).

Despite the sterling resume, the BBWAA, the voting body for the hall of fame, gave 68% of their vote for Wagner's induction last year.



Ahead of Tuesday's announcement, the Hall of Fame Ballot Tracker forecasted a 78% vote for Wagner, which would be enough for induction.

The Baseball Hall gives players 10 years of eligibility starting five years after the season they retire. Wagner retired as a Brave in 2010 and began eligibility on the 2016 ballot.
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Since then, Wagner has been aiming to join teammates Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell for the honor.

Other notable former Astros on the ballot include Carlos Beltran and Andy Pettitte, who were also denied entry.

The Associated Press and ESPN contributed to this story.

SEE ALSO: Will Wagner, son of Houston's legendary closer, digs in at Astros spring training in Florida