Player Name: Billy Wagner
Sets From: 1994 Bowman, Bowman’s Best, Pinnacle, Score, SP, Topps, Upper Deck, and Collector’s Choice
Card Numbers: 642, B19, 264, 536, 18, 209, 524 and 29
Why are these cards a must have?:Wagner might just be one of THE most elite closers in baseball. Yep, you read that right, he is dominating and has been for years. Befoer you think I have been out getting stoned and I’m talking through emotions, look at his career numbers (over the course of 14 years). He has a career statline of 385 saves/2.40/1.01 over the course of 765 appearances. That is mind numbing. Just to compare, Mariano has a career ERA of 2.26 and a WHIP of 1.02, so the numbers are similar. I never understood why the Astros or Phillies gave up on him. Career-wise he has 6 All Star selections and 1 Rolaids Relief Award. All time he is 6th in saves, 48th in games, and 12th in games finished. In my honest opinion, he should be a Hall of Famer.
On a scale of 1 – 10, how must have are these cards: 7, I think it even surprised me as to how good his stats really are. I see him closing for a couple more years and hanging it up. The cards go for between $1.50 – $5 in the book, on eBay they are at $1 – $4. The Bowman’s Best and SP are the best to own.
The Phillies didn’t give up on Wagner. He left for more money. In a way The Astro’s really didn’t either. They had a closer in waiting and Wagner was a salary dump.