The final member of the 2008 World Series Champion Philadelphia Phillies has called it a career. It was announced this afternoon that Cole Hamels has retired from professional baseball.
Giving It One Last Shot
As a member of the Padres organization, Hamels was recently working his way back in an effort to pitch in the big leagues.
His last appearance was in 2020, as he tossed one inning for the Atlanta Braves before exiting with an injury.
Before that, he spent time in Chicago with the Cubs and even made an appearance against the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park that year. In the same series, Bryce Harper hit his infamous walk-off grand slam.
Is Cole Hamels a future Hall of Famer?
The long-time Phillies left-hander had a 15-year Major League career, although he has not been a Major League regular since 2019. Injuries robbed Cole of the final seasons of his career, but he has accumulated a wonderful career.
Cole Hamels was a 4-time All-Star, the 2008 NLCS MVP, and a 2008 World Series champion.
The veteran amassed a record of 163-122, with a 3.43 career earned run average, 2,698 innings pitched, and 2,560 career strikeouts.
He last pitched in a Phillies uniform in 2015, where he threw a no-hitter against the Chicago Cubs in Wrigley Field.
He was dealt soon after in a trade with the Texas Rangers, in which the Phillies would get back outfielder Nick Williams, catcher Jorge Alfaro, and starting pitcher Jared Eickhoff, all of whom played for the organization at the big league level.
Congratulations to Cole Hamels on a well-deserved retirement, and I look forward to his Phillies Wall of Fame induction in the years to come.
Gavin Baker/Icon Sportswire
