COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. – “Billy the Kid” Wagner celebrated the birthday party weekend of a lifetime in upstate New York, standing tall as a record-setting 100-mile-per hour relief pitcher, becoming Sunday the 279th player to enter the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
William Edward Wagner, who struck out one-third of all major league batters he faced in a 16-year career (1995—2010) is the favorite baseball son and pride of Southwest Virginia, Tazewell High School and Ferrum College. One of three pitchers immortalized who never started a big league game – along with Trevor Hoffman and Bruce Sutter –started the day’s remarks with a quip in his opening speech.
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This story was prepared with assistance from the Houston Astros, Baseball Rererene.com and Major League Baseball Hall of Fame Director of Communications Craig Muder.