Billy Wagner is an All-Star closer who pitches for the Atlanta Braves. For years, he was the closer for the New York Mets (,2006-2009) Houston Astros (1995-2003),Philidelphia Phillies( 2004-2005)and Boston Red Sox (2009). He is widely regarded as one of the best closers in the game. In high school, he was Player of the Year for 1990. Wagner would attend Ferrum College in Virginia. While he was there, he set NCAA record in 1992 for strikeouts per inning (19.1) and fewest hits per inning (1.88) and he holds the NCAA Division III for strikeouts (227).

Wagner was selected with the 12th pick in the 1993 draft by the Houston Astros. Although Wagner thrived as a starter, he would be converted to a reliever role to take advantage of his excellent fastball. He would make his major league debut on September 13, 1995.

Wagner is noted for being a power pitcher who can consistently throw at or close to 100 mph. He is also unique in that he is a left handed closer, which would seem to be a disadvantage, since most hitters are right handed. But Wagner has defied the statistics to earn the 1999 Rolaids Relief Man of the Year Award and earn several all-star appearances. http://www.rolaidsreliefman.com/pastwinners.aspx

In 1996, he would become the team's closer at the end the season. He would spend the next several seasons developing into an elite relief pitcher. He would earn three All-Star appearances during his stay with the Astros in 1999, 2001, and 2003. In 2004, Wagner would be traded to the Philadelphia Phillies for Brandon Duckworth, Taylor Buchholz, and Ezequiel Astacio.

He would become a free agent in 2005, and he would sign with the New York Mets for four years and $43 million. After spending several years with the Mets, the six-time All-Star signed with the Atlanta Braves in 2010. After the 2010 season, Wagner says he intends to retire. http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100430&content_id=9707344&vkey=news_atl&fext=.jsp&c_id=atl

In 1999, Billy Wagner,had his best career stats ever. Wagner had 39 saves, struck out 124 strikeouts in 74 innings (15 SO for every nine innings) Wagner posted a 4-1 record with an ERA of 1.57, and actually had more saves than hits allowed (in 74.2 innings, he allowed 35 hits). His greatness that season allowed him to win Relief Man of the Year.http://mlb.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=123790

Wagner had some of his best numbers of his career when he was with the Houston Astros from 1995-2003. Wagner was unquestionably the best closer in the National League and best in his craft until an injury in 2000. Wagner tore his torn flexor tendon in his pitching arm and would miss the final three and a half months of the season. But Wagner would make a comeback in 2001 after elbow sugery. That year, Wagner would save 39 games in 41 attempts with a 2.73 ERA earning him TSN's Comeback Player of the Year honors.

The fact that Wagner was able to come back with hardly any ill effects of his surgery two years after winning Reliver of the Year, is a testimony to what kind of player Wagner is and has been over the years.