Billy Wagner was nearly teammates with all four Hall of Fame electees

The BBWAA elected its largest Hall of Fame class since 1955 when pitchers Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez, John Smoltz and infielder Craig Biggio were all voted for induction in 2015. It’s only the fourth BBWAA class to meet or exceed four members since 1936, so the idea of a class this large is foreign to both the fans and even the writers who made it possible. But few would argue that it wasn’t long overdue.

With that in mind though, a larger class makes it very unlikely that any one player — past or present — could say he shared a clubhouse with the entire class, but long-time closer and 2016 Hall of Fame ballot first-timer Billy Wagner came within eight days of having that distinction.

As a key member of the Houston Astros bullpen from 1995-2003 — he closed for the final seven years, recording 225 saves overall ­— his longest time was spent with Craig Biggio, who played his entire 20-year career in Houston. By the time Wagner showed up though, Biggio’s days as a catcher were long over, so the on field relationship was limited to talking bunt strategy and turning double plays.

It was also during Wagner’s Houston tenure that he very briefly overlapped with Randy Johnson. The “Big Unit” was acquired from the Seattle Mariners in a pre-deadline trade to supplement Houston’s playoff chances in 1998. The Astros went on to win 102 games, taking the division by 12 games over the Chicago Cubs, but fell 3-1 to the San Diego Padres in the NLDS. Following the season, Johnson signed a free agent contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Five years later, Wagner was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies for a two-year stint, before ultimately signing a free contract with the New York Mets on Nov. 29, 2005. As New York’s closer, Wagner saved more than few games for Pedro Martinez, as they spent the next three seasons as teammates.

That leaves Smoltz, who some might not remember actually had a brief but disappointing stint with the Boston Red Sox at the very end of his career in 2009. On Aug. 17, Smoltz was released after posting an 8.33 ERA in eight games. On Aug. 25, Wagner was traded to Boston and finished the season as a key set up man in the bullpen.

So close, yet so far away.

Of course, other than having something to tell his grandchildren, there’s no reward for having such a distinction. But Wagner’s near association with all four Hall of Famers and the circumstances that prevented it from happening are pretty interesting. If only Smoltz had a little gas left in the tank in 2009, Wagner could have completed the Hall of Fame cycle. 

Then again, if Smoltz was still the Smoltz of old at age 42, his Hall of Fame induction may have been delayed another year or two anyway.

BLS H/N: Cut 4 

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Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Townie813