Billy Wagner

High school (ages 12+)
Sports & Games

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/billy-wagner

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. When was Billy Wagner born?July 25, 1971
2. What is the primary pitching arm?Left-handed (learned after fracturing right arm twice)
3. What is the career strikeouts per nine innings (k/9)?11.9 (2nd highest for pitchers with >= 900 IP)
4. What made Billy Wagner a special pitcher?Billy Wagner was a left‑handed pitcher who could throw very fast and strike out almost every batter he faced. His speed and control made him one of the best closers in baseball history.
5. Why did Billy switch to pitching with his left arm?He was born right‑handed, but many arm fractures in his youth made him learn to pitch with his left arm. That change helped him become a Hall of Fame pitcher.

Live-ball Era: The period in baseball history starting in 1920, characterized by more offense and higher scoring.
WHIP (Walks plus Hits per Inning Pitched): A statistic that measures how many batters reach base against a pitcher per inning.
Dominant Hand: The hand an athlete primarily uses for their sport or activity.