To gain entry to the Baseball Hall of Fame, Billy Wagner completed a climb few candidates have managed. Wagner, the former Houston Astros closer, attained the 75% support from voters required for election in his final year of eligibility on the writers’ ballot.

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.

Last year at this time, Joe Mauer was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year on the ballot. And I — well, my ego — needed to grieve. In all my self righteousness garnered through 15 years covering MLB as a reporter,