‘Glad Chaos’: Astros Retire Corridor of Fame Reliever Billy Wagner’s No. 13

Houston Astros stars Jeff Bagwell and Craig Biggio had easy directions for rookie reliever Billy Wagner when he was referred to as up in 1995 — “Sit there. Don’t speak. If we want one thing, we’ll let you already know.”

On Saturday, with Bagwell and Biggio sitting to his left, the Astros retired Wagner’s No. 13.

The ceremony culminated three weeks of what Wagner referred to as “completely satisfied chaos” that began together with his induction into the Baseball Corridor of Fame on July 27.

“Having your quantity put up in a rafter with the greats of the group most likely sits up there as being a Corridor of Famer since you’re representing a metropolis, you’re representing your group that you just performed for,” Wagner stated. “It means loads.”

Wagner grew to become the tenth Astros’ participant to have his quantity retired, becoming a member of former Bagwell and Biggio, his teammates for the primary 9 seasons of his main league profession, and who’re the one different members of the Baseball Corridor of Fame to be inducted as Astros.

The 5-foot-10 pitcher was given the No. 13 as a joke by Abe Naff, his head coach at Division III Ferrum Faculty in Virginia.

Wallace Chitwood, a tall, strike-throwing, soft-tossing pitcher, wore No. 13 earlier than Wagner, who was a polar reverse.

“13 has simply been that unfortunate fortunate quantity,” Wagner stated.

A primary-round choose in 1993, Wagner spent the primary 9 of his 16 main league seasons with the Astros. Three of his seven All-Star alternatives have been with the Astros, and he’s the membership’s saves chief with 225.

Wagner was traded to the Phillies after the 2003 season. He additionally pitched for the New York Mets, and Boston Pink Sox earlier than closing out his profession with the Atlanta Braves in 2010, ending that season with 37 saves and a 1.43 ERA.

“I used to be bored with having my groins wrapped. I used to be bored with getting Toradol photographs in my again, and my ankles wrapped daily,” Wagner stated. “It was simple at the moment to stroll away. After I tried to stroll away it was with the understanding that I had finished sufficient, and I preferred being a dad.”

Wagner is fourth on profession saves checklist with 422. His .187 opponent batting common is the bottom in baseball historical past amongst relievers.

Reporting by The Related Press. 

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