Billy Wagner anxiously waited for his moment, but not just for himself, for what it meant to the future of baseball.

On January 21, 2025, all-time great closer Billy Wagner was elected to the Hall of Fame. A version of this story originally ran in December 2020.

Wagner, one of the game's all-time great relievers, made the cut during the final year of his eligibility on the Baseball Writers Association of America ballot, receiving 82.5% of the vote. Wagner would've been removed from the ballot if he didn't meet the voting requirement in 2025, and it's clear just how much it meant to him to get the nod.

FERRUM, Va. (WDBJ) - With more than 82% of the baseball writers’ vote, Southwest Virginia’s own Billy Wagner has been elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Ferrum College, where Wagner played baseball and football, held a private watch party Tuesday night to celebrate Wagner’s accomplishments and one of the biggest moments of his career.

Lefty pitchers Billy Wagner and CC Sabathia both earned their spots in the Baseball Hall of Fame, joining near-unanimous selection Ichiro

In his 10th and final year on the ballot, former Astros closer Billy Wagner earned is place in Cooperstown, N.Y. in the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Can you name the pitchers to lead every MLB franchise in saves since the statistic was officially introduced in 1969? Good luck! Did you like this quiz? Are there any quizzes you’d like to see us make in the future?

HOUSTON - Former Houston Astros pitcher Billy Wagner is headed to Cooperstown. Wagner was elected to the MLB Hall of Fame Class of 2025. Wagner will be officially inducted, along with Ichiro Suzuki and CC Sabathia, in Cooperstown, New York on Sunday, July 27.

Ichiro Suzuki, C.C. Sabathia and Billy Wagner were elected as the newest members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, the museum announced.

For the fourth time in the past eight years, the 10 th and final shot was on the money for a would-be- Baseball Hall of Famer.