Ed Wade, Phillies GM 1998-2005:

On Nov. 3, 2003, we acquired left-handed closer Billy Wagner from the Houston Astros in exchange for pitchers Brandon Duckworth, Taylor Buchholz and Ezequiel Astacio.

Trading young pitching prospects is never easy, but we believed that we were in a position to win with Billy¡¯s ability to finish games. And, although he only played with us for two seasons (2004-05), Billy played a key role for the team, not only from the standpoint of what he did on the field as our closer, but also in how his acquisition helped validate the promise that we made to our fans to ¡°Get Good and Stay Good,¡± as we moved from Veterans Stadium to Citizens Bank Park.

Beginning with the free-agent signing of Jim Thome during the 2003 offseason and the acquisitions of Wagner, Kevin Millwood, David Bell, Kenny Lofton and others, we began to build around what would become our homegrown core nucleus made up of players like Carlos Ruiz, Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins, Pat Burrell, Cole Hamels and Ryan Madson; Shane Victorino, a Rule 5 Draft selection, was also part of that budding core.

In 2004, Billy¡¯s first year as our closer, he went 4-2 with a 2.42 ERA and 21 saves, and he followed that up with a remarkable 2005 campaign, going 4-2 with 38 saves and a 1.15 ERA while walking only 20 batters and striking out 87 in 77 2/3 innings.

It was our hope that Billy would wear the red pinstripes for a long time, but he opted to exercise his free-agent rights at the end of the ¡¯05 season and went on to have five more remarkable seasons with the Mets, Red Sox and Braves; during those final five seasons, he never had an ERA higher than 2.63 and had 138 more saves.

All of us were pulling for Billy to be enshrined in Cooperstown in the early stages of his eligibility, but his 2025 induction is another example of Billy sealing the deal when it was all on the line.

• Phillies Alumni

WAGNER NUGGETS

Nine closers have been inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame: Hoyt Wilhelm, Dennis Eckersley, Rollie Fingers, Goose Gossage, Trevor Hoffman, Mariano Rivera, Lee Smith, Bruce Sutter and Wagner . . . All 853 of Wagner¡¯s games were in relief. Most appearances were as a closer when the game was on the line ... 442 saves rank fifth most in history ... Faced 3,600 batters. Struck out almost one-third (1,196) ... Among the first pitchers to throw 100 miles per hour. Amazing for someone listed at 5-foot-10 ... 15 seasons in Majors, 7-time All-Star.

Growing up in rural Virginia, a broken arm before age 7 forced Wagner -- a natural right-hander -- to become a lefty thrower ... He excelled in both football and baseball at Tazewell High School, but he received very little interest from colleges. Ultimately elected to attend Division III Ferrum College, where he dominated the opposition. MLB scouts soon took notice,

Originally drafted by the Houston Astros in the first round (12th overall) in 1993 ... MLB debut: Sept. 13, 1995, at the Mets. Faced one batter (Rico Brogna, fly ball out); lifted for a pinch-hitter (Milt Thompson) ... Last game, Oct. 3, 2010. Pitching for Atlanta against the Phillies at Turner Field, 37th save, 1 2/3 innings. Ended career with 4 consecutive strikeouts, Raul Ibanez, Shane Victorino, Brian Schneider, Greg Dobbs ... Informed the Braves before the season he would retire at the end to spend more time with his family.

After he retired, Wagner went back home to be a full-time dad with his wife, Sarah, and their four children, Jeremy, William, Kason, and Olivia. Son, Will, is an infielder with the Toronto Blue Jays.

Elected to Hall of Fame, Jan. 21, 2025 ... 10th and final year on the ballot ... Broke out in tears when informed ... Induction is July 27, 2025.