CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – During most of the year, Tazewell native Billy Wagner is “Coach Wagner” of the Miller School of Albemarle, leading the Crozet school’s baseball program. This year, the Miller Mavericks won this year’s 2025 VISAA D1 Baseball championship.

Sunday, however, “Coach Wagner” became “Hall of Famer” Billy Wagner.

Wagner, a former Major League closer known for his rocket fastball, unwavering killer instinct, and clutch performances, was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y. on Sunday.

“I wasn’t supposed to be here,” Wagner told the crowd during his enshrinement speech.  

Wagner, who concluded his playing career in 2010 after stints with the Astros, Phillies, Mets, Red Sox and Braves, was elected in his 10th and final year on the Baseball Writers of America ballot, clearing the 75% vote threshold for entry.

He joined fellow lefthander and former Brewers and Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia and Seattle Mariners hitting machine Ichiro Suzuki, the first Japanese position player to play in the Majors, in this year’s Hall of Fame class.

Also inducted posthumously in 2025 were Pirates outfielder Dave Parker and Phillies infielder Dick Allen.   

During his speech, Wagner exhibited his trademark humility throughout his 20 minutes addressing the crowd.  He thanked everyone who he felt helped him get to the peak of baseball stardom, mentioning everyone from current Hall of Famers Jeff Bagwell and Craig Biggio, and multi-time all stars Lance Berkman and Moises Alou, to his college and high school coaches, to his bullpen catchers, Stretch Suba, and Mick Bilmire.   

“No one who hasn’t lived it will ever understand the camaraderie of a bullpen unit, and what it takes day in, day out to complete,” Wagner said. 

Wagner was not born left-handed, he did not start out as a relief pitcher, he faced adversity on his path to the Major Leagues from the beginning.  He achieved all that he achieved in baseball, in part, thanks to the faith others had in him, and because of his own, never-ending, determination.  

The emotional and passionate speech he gave closed the with the line “perseverance is the path to greatness,” an axiom his career has proven multiple times over.