Wagner made his seventh All-Star Game in 2010, recorded 37 saves for Atlanta, and had the lowest ERA (1.43) of his career. He was 39 years old and showed no signs of slowing down. Wagner still had it.

So Friday afternoon, the current Astros seized a chance to recognize a franchise luminary. Wagner visited the Astros’ spring training clubhouse, where manager Joe Espada recounted his route to ...