When you look back at Billy Wagner’s career, we can now say it was a Hall of Fame career. He’s second all-time in saves among left-handed relievers, and his K/9 was the best all-time.

There are many moments we can pinpoint in his career worth highlighting. Perhaps, his best moment was August 20, 2009.

In September 2008, with the New York Mets in the heat of a battle for the postseason, Wagner needed Tommy John. Typically, that surgery has players sit out at least a year.

For the Mets, the 2009 seaaon was an unmitigated disaster. Citi Field was not well received, and the team on the field made matters worse.

Remember, this was the year of Luis Castillo dropping the pop up. The less said about this, the better.

Point is the Mets were dreadful. They entered August 49-53, 9.5 games behind the Philadelphia Phillies. By August 20, the Mets were 13.5 games back.

Despite this, Wagner fought to return. In less than a year removed from Tommy John, he pitched a scoreless inning against the Atlanta Braves allowing no hits or walks while striking out two.

From there, Wagner would make one more scoreless appearance for the Mets before being traded to the Boston Red Sox Red Soxin what was really a salary dump trade. (Apologies to Chris Carter). He’d pitch one more year at a high level before retiring.

This moment shows us why Wagner was a Hall of Famer. He did whatever he needed to do to beat the odds. He forced his way on the field and was dominating.

This is what you expect from a naturally right-handed pitcher who learned to throw left-handed after breaking his dominant arm twice. You expect that from a 5’10” pitcher hitting triple digits on the gun.

Wagner will likely go in the Hall of Fame as a Houston Astro, as he should. However, he showed us all his best as a Met. He recorded his only three postseason saves with the team, and he made his superhuman return from Tommy John.

Wagner will always be a Met even if he’s an Astro in Cooperstown. We’ll remember the “Enter the Sandman” intro, that great 2006 team, and his fight. He did all he could to beat great and help the team.

He did that in his four years in New York, and every Mets fan is grateful he was a Met. Hopefully, he will get a day at Citi Field honoring his well deserved accomplishment.

Congratulations Billy Wagner.