Billy Wagner, Relief Pitchers and the Hall of Fame

Billy Wagner was one of the greatest relievers ever, but his election to the Hall of Fame raises some interesting questions.

Many of the most thoughtful people I know in the baseball fan and baseball writer community say they no longer care about the Hall of Fame. I generally avoid Hall of Fame debates as well, but I care about the Hall of Fame because of the role it plays in the historiography of the game. For example, a player who is in the Hall of Fame is remembered longer and differently than a player of comparable accomplishment who does not make the Hall of Fame.