Commending Billy Wagner.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Lashrecse Aird and 42 co-sponsors

A ceremonial resolution recognizing Billy Wagner for his 2025 Baseball Hall of Fame induction and celebrating his contributions as a Virginia standout.

Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ323ER)

Summary of Senate Joint Resolution No. 323 (SJ323ER)

SJ323ER is a ceremonial concurrent resolution that commends Billy Wagner for his induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. The measure is an “enrolled” version reflecting passage by both chambers (Senate and House) and is non-punitive and non-fiscal in nature.

Purpose and intent

Recognize and commend Billy Wagner for his induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2025.

Express the General Assembly’s admiration for his achievements and the pride he has brought to Virginia.

Key provisions

The resolution highlights Wagner’s status as a Virginia legend, native to Marion and raised in Tazewell County.

It notes his 16-year MLB career and his selection for Hall of Fame induction by the Baseball Writers' Association of America in 2025.

Wagner’s early life and perseverance are summarized, including learning to throw left-handed after two breaks in his right arm.

Career highlights are enumerated, including:

Standout years at Ferrum College (1991–1993) and an NCAA record for 1992 season (19.1 strikeouts per nine innings).
Drafted 12th overall by the Houston Astros in 1993; MLB debut in 1995.
Franchise record of 225 saves with the Astros (1995–2003).
Stints with the Phillies (2004–2005), Mets (2006–2009), Red Sox (2009), and Braves (2010).
Career totals: 2.31 ERA, 1,196 strikeouts, 422 saves (eighth all-time in MLB).
Notable rankings: first all-time in certain metrics among pitchers with at least 900 innings.
Seven All-Star selections and the 1999 Rolaids Relief Man Award.
Inductions into Ferrum College Sports Hall of Fame (2003), Virginia Sports Hall of Fame (2012), College Baseball Hall of Fame (2019), and Astros Hall of Fame (2020).
Noted as the first NCAA Division III player and the first Virginian from west of Culpeper inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Since 2013, his role as head coach of the Miller School of Albemarle’s baseball program.

The resolution instructs the Clerk of the Senate to prepare a copy for presentation to Billy Wagner.

Who is affected

The Commonwealth of Virginia and the General Assembly (in recognizing a notable Virginian).

Billy Wagner, recipient of the commendation.

Procedural and timeline highlights

Introduced: January 30, 2025.

Agreed to by the Senate: February 6, 2025 (voice vote).

Agreed to by the House of Delegates: February 10, 2025 (voice vote).

Enrolled (SJ323ER): February 11, 2025.

Status: Bill text as passed Senate and House (enrolled version SJ323ER).

Fiscal and legal impact

No fiscal appropriations or substantive policy changes.

Acts as a ceremonial appreciation measure; non-binding and non-operational beyond formal recognition.

Bottom-line

SJ323ER is a ceremonial joint resolution to publicly recognize Billy Wagner’s Hall of Fame induction and celebrate his contributions to baseball and Virginia’s pride, culminating in an official expression of admiration from the General Assembly.