FERRUM, VA, July 27, 2025 —The National Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2025 induction ceremony took place today in Cooperstown, New York, where former Ferrum College and Major League Baseball standout Billy Wagner was officially honored. Wagner makes history as the first NCAA Division III player ever inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Following a brief rain delay, Wagner was inducted alongside Seattle Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki and New York Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia—all selected by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA). The Class of 2025 also includes Dave Parker of the Pittsburgh Pirates and the late Dick Allen of the Philadelphia Phillies, both chosen by the Classic Baseball Era Committee.
“Billy Wagner’s induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame is a testament to his extraordinary talent and grit as well as to the power of a Ferrum College education and experience,” said Ferrum College President Mirta M. Martin. “He represents the very best of our Panther family, and we are bursting with pride as he takes his rightful place among baseball’s greatest legends.”
Wagner’s remarkable 18-year professional career began when he was selected in the first round of the 1993 MLB Draft by the Houston Astros as the #12 overall pick. He would go on to spend 16 seasons in the majors, making stops with the Houston Astros (1995–2003), Philadelphia Phillies (2003–05), New York Mets (2005–09), Boston Red Sox (2009), and Atlanta Braves (2010). He also played in the minors with the Auburn Astros (A) 1993, Quad City River Bandits (A) 1994, Jackson Generals (AA) 1995, and Tucson Toros (AAA) 1995.
Wagner made his MLB debut with the Astros on September 13, 1995. A dominant closer, he is a seven-time MLB All-Star (1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2010) and the 1999 MLB National League Rolaids Relief Award Winner.
Before turning pro, Wagner made his mark at Ferrum College. Over three seasons, he compiled a 17–3 record with a 1.63 earned run averag. He still holds the NCAA Div. III single-season record for most strikeouts per nine innings at 19.1 with 109 strikeouts in 51.1 innings in 1992, and the career record for most strikeouts per nine innings, with 16.0 with 327 strikeouts in 182.1 innings. Wagner was a 1993 first-team NCAA Division III All-American for the Panthers. He also played a year as a starting defensive back on Ferrum’s football team in 1990, with one career interception.
Wagner is head baseball coach at the Miller School of Albemarle in Charlottesville, Virginia. He was enshrined in the National College Baseball Hall of Fame in November of 2019. Wagner is married to Ferrum alumnae Sarah Quesenberry, a former basketball player at Ferrum who scored 1,134 career points from 1991 to 1994 and earned a pair of All-Conference selections.
About the photograph: Ferrum College alumni and friends celebrated with Billy Wagner during an event held Saturday evening ahead of Sunday’s National Baseball Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in Cooperstown, NY. Pictured L-R: Erik Robinson, Jeff Lamie, Darren Hodges, Drew Calohan, Greg Craddock, Russel Walton, Luke Schmidt, Billy Wagner, Chad France, Scott David, Chad Maddox, Chris Holt, and Andy Calohan.
