“Don’t know if they know me” – Former MLB star Billy Wagner opens up about Baseball Hall of Fame case, Cooperstown


“Don’t know if they know me” – Former MLB star Billy Wagner opens up about Baseball Hall of Fame case, Cooperstown

Billy Wagner [Image Credit: Miller School of Albermarle]

Former American baseball pitcher, Billy Wagner, nicknamed “Billy the Kid”, speculates the reason why his name is being left behind in the induction to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. He believes that subjective opinion can be the reason separating him and the HOF hall.

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As of now, Billy has listed out a few reasons that could be seen as the blocking stones to his path to the enshrinement. He spoke about his reasons with Jon Zaghloul of the Sports Talk Chicago, earlier this week. His discussions started with numbers while moving on to personal grudge references.

He stated, “I don’t know”. “You’re really asking something of me that I’m not comfortable with because my thought of Hall of Fame is all based on numbers.” 

“I can’t do nothing about the numbers that are out there. I don’t know how to build my case when the case is based on numbers … I don’t want to say that it’s a personal thing because you really can’t say I wasn’t good if my numbers are what they are.”

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Billy Wagner puzzled on why he isn’t in the HOF, Cooperstown

Billy Wagner [Image Credit: Sports Illustrated]
Billy Wagner [Image Credit: Sports Illustrated]

Billy who mounded for the Astros, Phillies, Mets, Red Sox, and Braves had a record of making it to 7 All-Star games, with a 2.31 career ERA, and a 0.998 WHIP, and complied with 422 saves. He’s been pitching from 1995-2010 and has full confidence that his accomplishments speak for themselves.

“It’s not an unbiased vote if you’re voting and saying it’s numbers. It’s not”. “It’s obviously like/dislike. The only thing I can say is I’ve always been accountable for good, bad, indifferent as I took responsibility for my actions.”

“I was always there at my locker to present the good and the bad with interviews. But, numbers wise there’s no case to be made for [not being in] the Hall of Fame if we’re gonna talk about numbers”, Wagner said.

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Earlier this year, Billy Wagner tasted 4 votes when The Post released the 10 poll writers’ votes from the sports section for the Hall of Fame. Billy is confident not only in his play but also in his personality, stating that there was rarely anyone who didn’t enjoy interviewing him in the locker room. 

When asked why he thinks he’s not being voted, Billy explained briefly, “I don’t get many West Coast votes, I don’t think, and maybe that’s because they didn’t see me that much. I don’t know. I really don’t know”. 

“There’s New York voters who are guys who don’t vote for me. Whether you like me or don’t like me, the numbers support [me]. I know there’s a lot of people who say relievers or closers shouldn’t be in, but I’ve also seen the articles they’ve written when the guy blows the save.”

“I think it’s kind of wishy-washy at times how we’re viewed. I don’t think the standards are the same for every person. I know there’s rumors spread about each player that are untrue.”

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“But most of the media, I don’t talk to. I don’t know most of the people that vote today. I don’t know if they know me. I don’t know if they saw me pitch. I don’t know what the particular reason is, but we all know that it’s not the numbers.”

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