Billy Wagner

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**Billy Wagner**

New York Mets — No. 13
Pitcher
Bats: Left	Throws: Left
Major League Baseball debut
September 13, 1995 for the Houston Astros
Selected MLB statistics (through 2006 season)
Saves	324
Earned Run Average	2.38
Strikeouts	934
Teams
Houston Astros (1995-2003) Philadelphia Phillies (2004-2005) New York Mets (2006-present)

William Edward Wagner (born July 25, 1971 in Tannersville, Virginia) is a American Major League Baseball closer for the New York Mets. Previously, Wagner pitched for the Philadelphia Phillies (2004-2005) and the Houston Astros (1995-2003). He bats and throws left-handed. He is known for his exceptional fastball, which is routinely measured around, and occasionally even exceeding, 100 MPH.

As a youth, Wagner was a natural right-handed pitcher, but after breaking his throwing arm twice, he taught himself how to use his left arm by throwing nothing but fastballs against a barn wall. He graduated from Tazewell High School, where he was named the 1990 Baseball Player of the Year. He also attended Ferrum College in Virginia and went 17-3 there, while setting single season NCAA records for strikeouts per nine innings (19.1 in 1992) and fewest hits per nine innings allowed (1.58 in 1992), and holds the Division III mark for career strikeouts (327 in 182.1 innings pitched). Wagner was inducted into the Salem-Roanoke Baseball Hall of Fame in Salem, Virginia, in February of 2003.

Wagner was selected in the first round of the June 1993 Major League Baseball draft by the Houston Astros, and was used exclusively as a starting pitcher in the minor leagues. He made his major league debut on September 13, 1995, retiring the only batter he faced in a 10-5 defeat against the Mets. It was his only appearance during that season.

Wagner began 1996 in the minors as a starter, and finished it by becoming a major league reliever. He posted a 6-2 record with a 3.28 ERA in twelve starts for Triple-A Tucson. His contract was purchased by the Astros on June 2, and Wagner was immediately converted to a reliever. He finished the year with nine saves in 13 opportunities, allowed only 28 hits and struck out 67 hitters in 51.2 innings (11.7 SO/9). Opponents hit only .165 against him.

In 1997, Wagner played his first full season in the majors. He converted 23 of 29 save opportunities while striking out 106 hitters in only 66.1 innings, which established a major league record for SO/9 at 14.4, breaking the old mark of 14.1 set by former Reds reliever Rob Dibble in 1992 (110 SO in 70.1 innings). He struck out the side 13 times, and his 106 strikeouts also set a club record for relievers.

In 1998, Wagner posted a 4-3 record with a 2.70 ERA and 97 strikeouts in 60 innings, and saved 30 games, which was the third best single season in club history. He converted 19 consecutive save opportunities between his first blown save against the Dodgers (April 12) and his second facing the Cardinals (July 11). On July 15, while trying to hold on to an 8-7 lead against Arizona, he was struck on the left side of his head behind the ear by a line drive off the bat of Kelly Stinnett. Wagner was alert and conscious on the ground as his vital signs remained good. He was removed from the field on a stretcher after suffering a concussion and spent the night at a Phoenix hospital. The next day, he returned to Houston and was placed on the 15-day disabled list. Wagner worked on balanced and coordination exercises before being cleared by doctors to go on a rehabilitation assignment in the minors. After working three games, he was recalled on August 6, and remained healthy for the rest of the season.

Wagner had an outstanding 1999 season. He captured the Relief Man of the Year Award in the National League. He saved 39 games and struck out 124 in only 74 innings (15 SO/9), establishing a new major league record for strikeouts in at least 50 innings, including the side 15 times. Wagner posted a 4-1 record with an ERA of 1.57, and actually had more saves than hits allowed (in 74.2 innings, he allowed 35 hits).

The 2000 season started off in typical fashion for Wagner, who saved three of the Astros' first four wins while retiring 16 of the first 20 batters he faced. But after recording a save on May 4 against the Cubs, he suffered back-to-back blown saves on May 12-13 versus the Reds. While he was still hitting 100-MPH on the radar gun, he wasn't throwing his 85-90 MPH slider as much as he used to. Wagner would continue to struggle before going on the disabled with a torn flexor tendon in his pitching arm and would miss the final three and a half months of the season. He finished with 2-4 record, a 6.18 ERA, and six saves in 15 opportunities, striking out 28 and walking 18 in 27.2 innings. He would rebound in 2001. Coming off elbow surgery, he posted a record of 2-5 with 39 saves in 41 chances, and an ERA of 2.73. He was one of the leading candidates for TSN Comeback Player of the Year in the National League. In 62.2 innings, he struck out 79 hitters.

Billy Wagner, pitching for the Philadelphia Phillies, unleashes his fastball

In 2002, Wagner went 4-2 with a 2.52 ERA, 88 strikeouts, and 35 saves in 75 innings. Then, he enjoyed his best season in 2003, when he reached career-highs in saves (44), innings pitched (86.0) and games (78), and got 105 strikeouts. In that year, he also cemented his status as the hardest-throwing man in baseball by leading the major leagues with 159 pitches at 100 mph or above. Second on the list was starter Bartolo Colon with 12.

Wagner was traded to Philadelphia before the 2004 season, only to have his season shortened by a strain in his throwing shoulder. Wagner became a free agent after the 2005 season. He signed a 4 year, $43 million contract (including a team option for a 5th year) with the Mets on November 28, 2005.

In a May 7, 2006 interview, Wagner stated that he was confronted by all of his former Philadelphia Phillies teammates in September 2005 after Wagner criticized their performance in the media by repeatedly saying that the Phillies had "no chance" of making the playoffs, with Phillies leftfielder Pat Burrell reportedly calling Wagner a "rat." The confrontation reportedly was one of several factors that drove Wagner from Philadelphia in the 2005-06 offseason. Upon his return to Philadelphia as a New York Met, a number of Phillies fans booed him and called him a traitor. Wagner pitched very well against Philadelphia in the 2006 regular season however, posting a 0.00 ERA with four saves in 7 games against his former club while leading the New York Mets to the Divison Championship.

Although Wagner is known for stellar relief, like all major league pitchers he too has his bad days. On May 20, 2006, he gave up a 4-0 lead against the Yankees in the 9th inning, recording only one out. The Yankees tied the game in the ninth, and scored the winning run in extra innings.

On Opening Day of 2006, Wagner's entrance in the ninth inning was accompanied by his long-time theme song, Metallica's Enter Sandman. This was notable because New York Yankees reliever Mariano Rivera also used the same song as his entrance music, although Rivera only started using it years after Wagner did. While some New York fans were surprised that both relievers were using the song, Rivera was not bothered. In any case, Wagner was using the song long before Rivera had even heard of Metallica. Rivera does not even like the song Enter Sandman, he prefers religious music. It was the yankees who picked Enter Sandman for Rivera because they heard it from Wagner and thougt it was a good enterence song.[1]

Wagner recorded his milestone 300th career save on July 4, 2006 against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

In a twelve-year career, Wagner has compiled a 37-34 record with 934 strikeouts, a 2.38 ERA, and 324 saves in 702 2/3 innings.