In his 10th and final year on the ballot, former Astros closer Billy Wagner earned is place in Cooperstown, N.Y. in the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Wagner, one of the game's all-time great relievers, made the cut during the final year of his eligibility on the Baseball Writers Association of America ballot, receiving 82.5% of the vote. Wagner would've been removed from the ballot if he didn't meet the voting requirement in 2025, and it's clear just how much it meant to him to get the nod.

Wagner was in his final season of consideration for eligibility in voting by the Baseball Writers. He stated his case by recording 422 career saves over 16 seasons, ranking him No. 8 in MLB history and No. 2 all-time among left-handed pitchers.

The National Baseball Hall of Fame has announced its inductees for the class of 2025. Three players are set to be enshrined in Cooperstown in this year's class: Ichiro Suzuki, CC Sabathia and Billy Wagner.

Ichiro Suzuki, CC Sabathia, and Billy Wagner were inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame on January 22, 2025. Derek Jeter and Daryl Strawber

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.

Star Billy Wagner was one of the most feared and dominant closers in Major League history. Today, his dominance was rewarded as he was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Wagner and the rest of this year’s newly-selected Hall of Famers will be officially inducted into the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown,

Billy Wagner, one of MLB’s top left-handed relievers, is inducted into the Hall of Fame in his final ballot year.

Ichiro Suzuki could join Mariano Rivera as the only unanimous picks for baseball’s Hall of Fame and CC Sabathia, Billy Wagner and Carlos Beltrán also could be elected when results of the writers’ voting are announced.

Ichiro Suzuki, and CC Sabathia were voted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown on their first years on the ballot, while Billy Wagner earned election in his

Japanese icon Ichiro Suzuki was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame on January 22, 2025, becoming the first Japanese athlete and Asian to receive this honor. Securing 393 out of 394 votes,