45°
William Edward Wagner, who has owned a home in Greenwich, turns 43 on Friday. The former Major League Baseball relief pitcher was born July 25, 1971, in Tannersville, Va.
Wagner was selected by the Houston Astros in the first round of the Major League Baseball draft in June 1993. He played exclusively as a starting pitcher in minor league baseball. In 1994, Wagner led all minor league pitchers – in every league – with 204 strikeouts.
Wagner made his first Major League appearance with the Astros, as a late-season promotion from AAA baseball, on Sept. 13, 1995, pitching against one batter late in a 10–5 defeat by the New York Mets.
Wagner began 1996 once again in the minor leagues as a starting pitcher, but he finished the season by becoming a relief pitcher for the Astros. He pitched for parts of nine for the Astros (1995–2003).
He also pitched for the Philadelphia Phillies (2004–2005), the New York Mets (2006–2009), the Boston Red Sox (2009), and the Atlanta Braves (2010).
Wagner had an outstanding 1999 season. He captured the Relief Man of the Year Award in the National League.
Wagner is one of the few Major League relief pitchers to accumulate a total of 400 or more saves in his baseball career.
He is currently the baseball coach for the private Miller School.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Greenwich and receive free news updates.
