Billy Wagner is glad the “nightmare” is almost over.
By Tuesday night the former All-Star reliever will either be headed to the Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2025 or removed from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America ballot forever, after 10 unsuccessful attempts for enshrinement in Cooperstown.
Wagner, who spent four seasons with the Mets, attained 73.8 percent of the vote last year. It left him within five votes of reaching the 75 percent threshold needed for induction. If Wagner isn’t elected this time his hopes would rest on selection by an era committee, beginning in 2027.