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January 23, 2008


Billy Wagner to Receive Good Guy Award from New York Chapter of BBWAA

FERRUM, Va. -- Five-time Major League Baseball All-Star Billy Wagner, a relief pitcher for the New York Mets, will be honored Sunday, January 27, in New York City with the Ben Epstein "Good Guy" Award.

Wagner a former All-American at Ferrum College, will be presented with the award Sunday at the 85th annual dinner staged by the New York Chapter of the Baseball Writers' Association of America at the Hilton New York.  The Good Guy Award recognizes Wagner for his accessibility, cooperation and candor in working with members of the media.

Wagner will also introduce Rich "Goose" Gossage, the lone player in Major League Baseball's Hall of Fame Class of 2008.

"It's a real honor for me to introduce one of the great closers of all time. But am I the right guy to do that?"  said  Wagner (MLB.com).  "He's going into the Hall. How do I give him his just due?"

Gossage and Wagner have never met.  Gossage closed out his 23-year career in the majors in 1994, a year before Wagner entered the majors with the Houston Astros.  The two will be seated next to each other Sunday, at the same dais as Yogi Berra and Hall of Fame-designate Dick Williams, and the winners of the New York Chapter's awards -- Denny McLain, Luis Tiant, Craig Biggio, Alex Rodriguez, Bobby Murcer, Joba Chamberlain and Johnny Damon.

The winners of the eight BBWAA awards will also be in attendance, including MVPs Rodriguez and Jimmy Rollins, Cy Young Award winners Jake Peavy and C.C. Sabathia, Rookies of the Year Ryan Braun and Dustin Pedroia and Managers of the Year Bob Melvin and Eric Wedge.  Mets manager Willie Randolph and new Yankees manager Joe Girardi are set to attend as well.

Wagner earned All-Star nods in 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, and 2007.  He was able to participate in all but the 2005 All-Star Game.  Wagner has 358 career saves, converting 74 of 84 save opportunities in his two seasons with the Mets.  In both seasons, he surpassed Gossage's single-season high of 33 saves.

          MLB Career Save Leaders
          1.  Trevor Hoffman (524 saves) **
          2.  Lee Smith (478)
          3.  Mariano Rivera (443) **
          4.  John Franco (424)
          5.  Dennis Eckersley (390)
          6.  Jeff Readon (367)
          7.  Billy Wagner (358) **
          8.  Randy Myers (347)
          9.  Rollie Fingers (341)
          10.  John Wetteland (330)               ** Active players

Sunday's dinner is open to the public and begins at 6 p.m. EST.  Tickets ($225 each) are available through Tuesday by calling 201-871-5924, by calling the BBWAA suite at the Hilton New York at 212-586-7000 or at the door.

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