3 days ago · It's only natural that Hoffman and Wagner would be linked, as two of the best relief pitchers of their era. Mariano Rivera stands alone as the greatest reliever of all time. But Hoffman and Wagner also helped define the same era -- an era that saw back-end relievers trend toward short-burst dominance.

Jan 6, 2025 · In fact, Mariano Rivera, the greatest reliever of all time, could walk back on the mound, face exactly 782 batters and strike them all out. It still wouldn’t be enough to top Wagner’s 33.2% strikeout rate.

6 days ago · Billy Wagner's thoughts on being inducted in the Baseball Hall of Fame. ... standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Mariano Rivera and Trevor Hoffman in every key closer statistic from 1996 to 2010.

Dec 27, 2024 · And starting in the mid-'90s, year after year, there was Mariano Rivera, Trevor Hoffman and Billy Wagner. Wagner recorded nine 30-save seasons. Since Eckersley's first year as a true closer in 1988, only Rivera (15) and Hoffman (14) have had more.

Jan 22, 2015 · He's not the greatest closer of all time, but the oft-overlooked Billy Wagner may deserve enshrinement in Cooperstown. Between 1995 and 2013, Mariano Rivera was the gold standard when it came...

Jan 22, 2025 · Suzuki became the first Japanese player chosen for the Hall, falling one vote shy of unanimous when he was elected along with CC Sabathia and Billy Wagner.

Jan 22, 2025 · Mariano Rivera remained the only player to get 100% of the vote from the BBWAA, appearing on all 425 ballots in 2019. Derek Jeter was chosen on 395 of 396 in 2020.

Aug 14, 2020 · Billy Wagner wasn’t Mariano Rivera, but no one else matched up to the Sandman. In his own right, though, Wagner had an excellent career and may enter the Hall of Fame within a few years. The 5-foot-10, 180-pound lefty saved 422 games and had a 2.31 ERA in 853 games.

Jan 19, 2024 · Only three have been elected since 2009 − Trevor Hoffman (2018), Mariano Rivera (2019) and Lee Smith (2019). Billy Wagner, a flame-throwing left-hander and one of baseball's elite closers during...

Dec 20, 2023 · Wagner ended his career with an ERA+ of 187. Only Mariano Rivera had a higher number, with a 205 ERA+. What’s more, his 11.92 strikeouts per nine innings and .187 opponents’ batting average are tops for any pitcher -- starter or reliever -- in AL/NL history in those categories (minimum 900 innings).