| New York Mets — No. 13 | |
| Closer | |
| Born: July 25, 1971 | |
|---|---|
| Bats: Left | Throws: Left |
| Major League Baseball debut | |
| September 13, 1995 for the Houston Astros | |
| Selected MLB statistics (through May 27, 2008) | |
| Win-Loss | 39-36 |
| Saves | 369 |
| Earned run average | 2. In Baseball, a closing pitcher, more frequently referred to as a closer (abbreviated CL) is a Relief pitcher who specializes in closing out Events 285 - Diocletian appoints Maximian as Caesar, co-ruler Year 1971 ( MCMLXXI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1971 Gregorian calendar. Events 509 BC - The Temple of Jupiter on Rome 's Capitoline Hill is dedicated on the ides of September Year 1995 ( MCMXCV) was a Common year starting on Sunday. Events of 1995 A win is a Statistic in Major League Baseball credited to the Pitcher for the winning team who was in the game when his team last took the lead In Baseball, a save (abbreviated SV or S) is credited to a Pitcher who finishes a game for the winning team under certain prescribed circumstances In Baseball statistics, earned run average ( ERA) is the Mean of Earned runs given up by a Pitcher per nine Innings pitched 36 |
| Strikeouts | 1035 |
| Teams | |
| |
William (Billy) Edward Wagner (born July 25, 1971 in Tannersville, Virginia) is a Major League Baseball closer for the New York Mets. In Baseball or Softball, a strikeout or strike out (denoted by SO or K) occurs when a batter receives three strikes The Houston Astros are a Professional baseball team based in Houston Texas. Champions Major League Baseball World Series: Atlanta Braves over Cleveland Indians (4-2 Tom Glavine, MVP Headline event of the year The Florida Marlins become World Series champions holding off a dynastic New York Yankees team 4 games to The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States. Headline events of the year The Boston Red Sox win their first World Series since, ending the Curse of the Bambino. 2005 Major League Baseball season Headline events of the year Chicago White Sox swept the Houston Astros to win the World Series "Mets" redirects here For the medical term see Metastasis. 2006 Major League Baseball season|2006 Nippon Professional Baseball season Headline Event of the Year The 2006 World Baseball Classic is a surprise success Events 285 - Diocletian appoints Maximian as Caesar, co-ruler Year 1971 ( MCMLXXI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1971 Gregorian calendar. Tazewell County is a county located in the southwestern portion of the U The Commonwealth of Virginia ( is an American state In Baseball, a closing pitcher, more frequently referred to as a closer (abbreviated CL) is a Relief pitcher who specializes in closing out "Mets" redirects here For the medical term see Metastasis. Previously, Wagner pitched for the Houston Astros (1995-2003) and the Philadelphia Phillies (2004-2005). The Houston Astros are a Professional baseball team based in Houston Texas. Champions Major League Baseball World Series: Atlanta Braves over Cleveland Indians (4-2 Tom Glavine, MVP Headline event of the year The Florida Marlins become World Series champions holding off a dynastic New York Yankees team 4 games to The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States. Headline events of the year The Boston Red Sox win their first World Series since, ending the Curse of the Bambino. 2005 Major League Baseball season Headline events of the year Chicago White Sox swept the Houston Astros to win the World Series He bats and throws left-handed.
Contents |
Career
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. Someone who is right-handed will prefer to use this hand for everyday activities such as writing, maintaining personal hygiene, Cooking and so forth In Baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the Pitcher's mound toward the Catcher to begin each play with the goal of He graduated from Tazewell High School, where he was named the 1990 Baseball Player of the Year. Tazewell High School (THS is a public secondary school in Tazewell Virginia, United States He also attended Ferrum College in Virginia and went 16-4 there, while setting single season NCAA records for strikeouts per nine innings (19. Ferrum College is a private college in Ferrum, Virginia, USA in the Blue Ridge Mountains of southwestern Virginia The Commonwealth of Virginia ( is an American state The National Collegiate Athletic Association ( NCAA, often pronounced "N-C-Double-A" is a voluntary association of about 1200 institutions conferences organizations In Baseball statistics, strikeouts per 9 innings pitched ( K/9IP or K/9) is the Mean of Strikeouts, (or K's) by a 1 in 1992) and fewest hits per nine innings allowed (1. Year 1992 ( MCMXCII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar) In Baseball statistics, hits per nine innings (denoted by H/9) is the average number of hits allowed by a Pitcher in a nine inning period calculated 88 in 1992), and holds the Division III mark for career strikeouts (227 in 182. Division III (or DIII) is a division of the National Collegiate Athletic Association of the United States. 1 innings pitched). Wagner was inducted into the Salem-Roanoke Baseball Hall of Fame in Salem, Virginia, in February 2003. Salem is an Independent city in Virginia, USA, bordered by the city of Roanoke to the east but otherwise adjacent to Roanoke County Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar.
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. Champions Major League Baseball World Series: Toronto Blue Jays over Philadelphia Phillies (4-2 Paul Molitor, In Baseball or Softball, a starting pitcher, often abbreviated as starter, is the Pitcher who pitches the first pitch to the first batter of Part of the History of baseball series Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of Professional baseball leagues in North He made his major league debut on September 13, 1995, retiring the only batter he faced in a 10-5 defeat against the Mets. Events 509 BC - The Temple of Jupiter on Rome 's Capitoline Hill is dedicated on the ides of September Champions Major League Baseball World Series: Atlanta Braves over Cleveland Indians (4-2 Tom Glavine, MVP "Mets" redirects here For the medical term see Metastasis. It was his only appearance during that season.
Houston Astros
Wagner began 1996 in the minors as a starter, and finished it by becoming a major league reliever. Champions Major League Baseball World Series: New York Yankees over Atlanta Braves (4-2 John Wetteland, MVP He posted a 6-2 record with a 3. 28 ERA in twelve starts for Triple-A Tucson. In Baseball statistics, earned run average ( ERA) is the Mean of Earned runs given up by a Pitcher per nine Innings pitched The Tucson Toros are a professional baseball team based in Tucson Arizona, in the United States. His contract was purchased by the Astros on June 2, and Wagner was immediately converted to a reliever. Events 455 - The Vandals enter Rome, and plunder the city for two weeks A relief pitcher or reliever is a Baseball or Softball Pitcher who enters the game after the Starting pitcher is removed due to injury He finished the year with nine saves in 13 opportunities, allowed only 28 hits and struck out 67 hitters in 51. In Baseball, a save (abbreviated SV or S) is credited to a Pitcher who finishes a game for the winning team under certain prescribed circumstances 2 innings (11. 7 SO/9). Opponents hit only . 165 against him.
In 1997, Wagner played his first full season in the majors. Champions Major League Baseball World Series: Florida Marlins over Cleveland Indians (4-3 Liván Hernández, 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. The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati Ohio, USA Robert Keith Dibble (born January 24, 1964 in Bridgeport Connecticut) is a former Major League Baseball Pitcher. Champions Major League Baseball World Series: Toronto Blue Jays over Atlanta Braves (4-2 Pat Borders, MVP 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. Headline events of the year Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Ken Griffey Jr 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). The Los Angeles Dodgers are a Major League Baseball team based in Los Angeles California, USA Events 467 - Anthemius is elevated to Emperor of the Western Roman Empire. The St Louis Cardinals (also referred to as "the Cards " or "the Redbirds " are a professional Baseball team based in St Events 911 - Signing of the Treaty of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte between Charles the Simple and Rollo of Normandy. 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. Events 1099 - First Crusade: Christian soldiers take the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem after the final The Arizona Diamondbacks (also referred to as the D-backs) are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix Arizona. Kelly Lee Stinnett (born February 4, 1970 in Lawton, Oklahoma) is a Major League Baseball Catcher who is currently a 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. Phoenix (ˈfiːˌnɪks O'odham Skikik, Yavapai Wasinka, Western Apache Fiinigis, Navajo Hoozdo, The next day, he returned to Houston and was placed on the 15-day disabled list. Wagner worked on balance 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. Events 1538 - Bogotá, Colombia, is founded by Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada.
Wagner had an outstanding 1999 season. Champions Major League Baseball World Series: New York Yankees over Atlanta Braves (4-0 Mariano Rivera, MVP He captured the Relief Man of the Year Award in the National League. In Major League Baseball, the Rolaids Relief Man of the Year Award, first awarded in, is a distinction given to the top Relief pitcher in each league at the end of The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the National League ( NL) is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball 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. Champions Major League Baseball Regular Season Champions Other champions Caribbean World Series: 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. Events 1256 - The Augustinian monastic order is constituted at the Lecceto Monastery when Pope Alexander IV The Chicago Cubs are a Professional Baseball franchise based in Chicago, Illinois. 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. In Baseball, a slider is a pitch halfway between a Curveball and a Fastball. Wagner would continue to struggle before going on the disabled list 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. A base on balls ( BB) is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in Baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire 2 innings. He would rebound in 2001. Champions Major League Baseball Regular Season Champions Other champions Caribbean World Series: 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. The Sporting News Comeback Player of the Year Award is the older of two annual awards in Major League Baseball given to one player in each league who has In 62. 2 innings, he struck out 79 hitters.
In 2002, Wagner went 4-2 with a 2. Champions Major League Baseball Regular Season Champions Other champions Caribbean World Series: 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. Artistic gymnastics World Artistic Gymnastics Championships: Men's all-around champions Paul Hamm, USA, 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 Colón with 12. Bartolo Colón (born May 24 1973 in Altamira, Dominican Republic) is a Major League Baseball Starting pitcher for the Boston Red Sox
On June 11, 2003, Wagner closed out a no-hitter thrown by a record six pitchers. Events 1184 BC - Trojan War: Troy is sacked and burned according to the calculations of Eratosthenes. Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. To date, it is the last Astros no-hitter. [1]
Philadelphia Phillies
Wagner was traded to Philadelphia before the 2004 season, only to have his season shortened by a strain in his throwing shoulder. Headline events of the year The Boston Red Sox win their first World Series since, ending the Curse of the Bambino. Wagner became a free agent after the 2005 season. In Professional sports a free agent is a team player whose contract with a team has expired and the player is able to sign a contract with another team if that player 2005 Major League Baseball season Headline events of the year Chicago White Sox swept the Houston Astros to win the World Series Wagner signed a 4-year, $43 million contract with the New York Mets on November 28, 2005. For the town in Argentina, see 28 de Noviembre. Events
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 left fielder Pat Burrell reportedly calling Wagner a "rat. Events 558 - In Constantinople, the dome of the Hagia Sophia collapses 2006 Major League Baseball season|2006 Nippon Professional Baseball season Headline Event of the Year The 2006 World Baseball Classic is a surprise success The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States. Patrick Brian 'Pat' Burrell III, nicknamed Pat the Bat, (born October 10, 1976 in Eureka Springs, Arkansas) is the starting Left " The confrontation reportedly was one of several factors that drove Wagner from Philadelphia in the 2005-06 offseason.
New York Mets
He finished 2006 with 40 saves and a 2. 24 ERA. His performance contributed to the Mets' first division title in 18 years. Wagner did not have a great post-season; he recorded 3 saves but lost one game and allowed 6 runs over 5. 2 innings for a 10. 38 ERA.
Wagner had a very good first half in 2007. Champions Major League Baseball Regular Season Champions Other champions Minor League Baseball He was 17-1 in save opportunities with a 1. 94 ERA. July was his best month, he recorded 8 saves in 8 chances and did not allow a run all month. His first half performance earned him a spot on the All-Star team. His second half was not as successful. Overall, he was 13-4 in save opportunities and had a 3. 90 ERA. His last two months were the worst. On September 2nd, Wagner blew a pivotal save in the fourth game of a four game series between the Phillies and Mets, resulting in a critical four-game sweep by the Phillies that proved to be the difference, as they finished one game ahead of the Mets on the final day of the season. He had a 6. 23 ERA in August and was plagued with back spasms during September.
On May 15th 2008, after the Mets lost a crushing 1-0 game to the Washington Nationals, Wagner ran off a profanity laced tirade. Calendar Major League Baseball See also 2008 Major League Baseball season Postseason October 1 – ALDS and The Washington Nationals is an American professional baseball team based in Washington D Some speculated that it was directed toward teammates Carlos Beltran and Carlos Delgado about them not being available for interviews in the locker room following games. Carlos Ivan Beltrán (ˈkɑrloʊs bɛlˈtrɑːn bel- trahn) born April 24 1977 in Manatí Puerto Rico) is a Major League Baseball Outfielder Carlos Juan Delgado Hernández (born June 25 1972 in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico) is a Major League Baseball First baseman for the New York On June 11th, Wagner blew a 3-run lead in the 9th inning against the Diamondbacks by giving up a 3-run homer to Mark Reynolds, However, Carlos Beltran hit a 2-run walk-off homer in the 13th innings too give the Mets a 5-3 win. Mark Reynolds may refer to Mark Reynolds (footballer, Scottish fooballer Mark Reynolds (sailor, Olympic sailor Mark Carlos Ivan Beltrán (ˈkɑrloʊs bɛlˈtrɑːn bel- trahn) born April 24 1977 in Manatí Puerto Rico) is a Major League Baseball Outfielder The next day, he blew another save against the Diamondbacks, blowing a brilliantly pitched game by Johan Santana. It was his third blown save in his last four save opportunities. It was the first time since May 2000 (he was then a Houston Astro) that he blew 3 straight saves.
Highlights
- 5-time All-Star (1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007)
- Rolaids Relief Man of the Year Award (1999)
- Led league in games finished (2003, 2005)
- Wagner recorded his milestone 300th career save on July 4, 2006 against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also popularly known as the "Midsummer Classic" is an annual Baseball game between players from the National League In Major League Baseball, the Rolaids Relief Man of the Year Award, first awarded in, is a distinction given to the top Relief pitcher in each league at the end of In Baseball statistics, a Relief pitcher is credited with a game finished (denoted by GF) if he is the last pitcher to pitch for his team in a game Events 836 - Pactum Sicardi, peace between the Principality of Benevento and the Duchy of Naples Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
- Won the DHL Delivery Man of the Month Award for July 2007. DHL (originally standing for Dalsey Hillblom and Lynn) is a Deutsche Post World Net company of Germany that provides international mail During this month he produced an ERA of 0, giving up 2 hits, and pitched enough innings for a complete game shutout. In Baseball statistics, earned run average ( ERA) is the Mean of Earned runs given up by a Pitcher per nine Innings pitched
- In a twelve-year career, Wagner has compiled a 38-34 record with 934 strikeouts, a 2. 88 ERA, and 324 saves in 702 2/3 innings.
See also
References
External links
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube
- Sportsnet player stats
- Baseball Library (biography and accomplishments)
- The Baseball Analysts (pitch speed data)
- Billy Wagner's Official Blog at ChatWithAStar
- Daddy Wags: A Billy Wagner Internet Resource
| Preceded by Trevor Hoffman | National League Rolaids Relief Man of the Year 1999 | Succeeded by Antonio Alfonseca |
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