Astros Closer · 1995–2010 · Hall of Fame 2025 Billy Wagner Entrance Song
What was Billy Wagner's entrance song?
Billy Wagner's entrance song was "Enter Sandman" by Metallica with the Houston Astros during his 1995–2010 career. Flame-throwing lefty Billy Wagner used Metallica's “Enter Sandman” dating back to his Astros days, sparking a minor controversy when he brought it to the Mets in 2006 since it was so identified with Mariano Rivera.
Houston walkup music leans Latin and country — Yordan Alvarez and José Altuve anchor a Latin-heavy walkup playlist, while the Texas-born players bring country picks. For more on the Astros' walkup tradition and current roster picks, see the Houston Astros walkup page.
Why "Enter Sandman" works as a walkup
The structure is perfect for a closer entrance — slow tense intro builds for 8 seconds, the iconic riff hits, the song grows for the full bullpen-to-mound walk. By the time the closer is on the mound, the song is at peak energy. No song has ever matched it as a closer entrance.
For the full breakdown — BPM, the trim point that hits, notable users, and pairings — see the "Enter Sandman" walkup song breakdown.
Set up a Wagner-style walkup for your team
Want a kid on your team to come to the plate (or jog in from the bullpen) like Wagner? It takes about a minute in Walkup Pro:
- Add the player to your roster
- Search "Enter Sandman" by Metallica and assign it
- Set a custom trim so the best 15–20 seconds plays — for "Enter Sandman" that's usually the hook, not the intro
- Connect a Bluetooth speaker at the field and tap to play on game day
For more, see the greatest closer entrance songs in baseball and the anatomy of the perfect walkup song.
More walkup & entrance legends
- Mariano Rivera — "Enter Sandman" by Metallica
- Trevor Hoffman — "Hells Bells" by AC/DC
- Jonathan Papelbon — "I'm Shipping Up to Boston" by Dropkick Murphys
- Eric Gagné — "Welcome to the Jungle" by Guns N' Roses
- John Smoltz — "Thunderstruck" by AC/DC
- Randy Johnson — "Welcome to the Jungle" by Guns N' Roses
- Dennis Eckersley — "Bad to the Bone" by George Thorogood
- Goose Gossage — "Bad to the Bone" by George Thorogood
Walk up like a legend
Build your roster, assign songs, set custom trims, and tap to play on game day. Free for up to 3 players.
Download Walkup Pro — Free