Billy Wagner will be the 12th former Astros player or manager to go into the Baseball Hall of Fame. There are more on the way.

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.

Billy Wagner fell short of election to the Baseball Hall of Fame last year in agonizing fashion. Five votes separated the former Houston Astros closer from securing a place in Cooperstown in his penultimate appearance on the writers’ ballot.

It may have come down to the wire in terms of eligibilty, however, Billy Wagner has finally heard his name called to the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

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.

Chase Utley is well-positioned to someday reach the 75% mark for election, but Jimmy Rollins and Bobby Abreu are spinning their wheels.

After 10 attempts, former Astros closer Billy Wagner finally reached the Hall of Fame, joining Ichiro and CC Sabathia in the class of 2025.

Billy Wagner fell just five votes short of induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame last January, making 2025 his 10th and final eligible year on the ballot for enshrinement in Cooperstown. The former Houston Astros closer finally broke through Tuesday night.

Billy Wagner, elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame on his final year on ballot, visits Cooperstown ahead of July's induction ceremony.

Former Houston Astros closer Billy Wagner felt like the clock stopped from 2 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. yesterday afternoon, the final day of his final year of eligibility to be voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

The five newcomers, including Ichiro Suzuki and CC Sabathia, will be inducted into the Hall of Fame on July 27, 2025, in Cooperstown, New York.