In electing Wagner, the BBWAA has defined the modern-day closer as its own entity, with candidates’ credentials measured not against the whole of the body but against this specific peer group.

Ichiro Suzuki became the first Japanese player chosen for baseball’s Hall of Fame, falling one vote shy of unanimous when he was elected along with CC Sabathia and Billy Wagner.

Billy Wagner doesn’t do subtlety. He comes right at you, with a blazing fastball and straight talk. So, if anyone wondered which team’s cap he will choose for his Hall of Fame plaque, he wore an Astros polo on a Zoom call with reporters Tuesday night.