Wagner’s Hall of Fame Election Draws Praise From Former Red Sox Teammate Papelbon
Billy Wagner’s election to the Baseball Hall of Fame this week marks the end of a 10-year wait for one of baseball’s most dominant closers. The lefthander’s brief stint with the Red Sox in 2009 left a lasting impression on Jonathan Papelbon, who served as Boston’s closer during Wagner’s time with the club.
“He was a consummate professional,” Papelbon told MassLive. “You never heard Billy Wagner bitch about anything. You never heard him complain about anything. He was always positive and wanted his teams to win. He’s a simple man. He’s a simple country boy, that’s what he is.”
Despite spending just a couple months in Boston, Wagner’s impact on Papelbon went beyond the field. “When I look back on that time, I have nothing but great memories and joy and conversations with him. The impression he made on me was that he wanted everybody to do well. It didn’t matter if you were a hitter or a pitcher, he wanted them to succeed.”
The path to Cooperstown isn’t easy for relievers, something Papelbon understands well. His own career ended with 368 saves, and he’s candid about what it takes to reach the Hall.
“It’s hard for closers to get in the Hall of Fame; I totally get it,” Papelbon said. “But at the end of the day, every manager wants a closer he knows can come in and shut down the other team in the postseason and win a World Series. It’s the same thing for NFL kickers — ‘Oh, they’re overrated.’ Yeah, until you need an Adam Vinatieri.”
Wagner’s election particularly resonated with his former teammate. “I could not have been happier,” Papelbon said. “He waited long enough… He fought the fight long enough to where there’s no question he deserved to get in.”
Red Sox Free Agent Update
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