PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Cole Hamels did not maintain something again because the Philadelphia followers roared upon his goodbye to the sport he cherished. Formally retiring as a member of the Philadelphia Phillies, Hamels admitted it would take a while to soak in his retirement ceremony in entrance of the identical followers who cheered him on for a decade in Philadelphia.
“I received to play a recreation I like, and for those that actually appreciated it,” an emotional Hamels stated. “We received to do one thing actually particular in a metropolis the place the bond we have now [with the city] is gonna be perpetually. To return again and be welcomed, be cherished, and to simply attempt to acknowledge how grateful we’re to play in entrance of one of the best followers on this planet.”
“We did what we got down to do. We did get that trophy. What this metropolis confirmed me as sports activities followers, helped me turn into a fair larger fan — particularly a fan of Philadelphia sports activities. You are taking that with you. The followers are the whole lot.”
Hamels’ retirement was a celebration of a superb profession with the Phillies that culminated within the 2008 World Sequence championship, which stays the second — and final — title in franchise historical past. Hamels was the MVP of that World Sequence, etching himself in Phillies lore by going 4-0 with a 1.80 ERA and 0.91 WHIP that October.
Hamels sealed his legacy in Philadelphia by throwing a no-hitter in his remaining begin. The Phillies legend was offered with the pitching rubber and lineup card from that no-hitter in his remaining begin with the Phillies in 2015. Aaron Nola was his teammate throughout that 2015 season, whereas Kyle Schwarber pinch-hit that recreation for the Cubs within the eighth inning on July 25.
Each gave the presents to Hamels for being part of that day, the closure Hamels earned after a superb decade in Philadelphia.
“Once you depart a crew or a second, and I left on such a excessive be aware, there’s gonna be an expectation,” Hamels stated. “On the time, I sort of understood what was fallacious with my shoulder and was simply making an attempt to purchase time. That is why I signed with a bunch of different groups. They gave me a superb alternative that I did not must be the form of Cole Hamels in Philly.”
“In Philly, there was gonna be an even bigger expectation. I wished to go proper. This metropolis I’ve accomplished the whole lot for and so they did the whole lot for me. You need to give them an excellent present. You need to have the ability to entertain and also you need to have the ability to win. If you do not have 100% of the whole lot going, you do not wanna be a letdown.”
Hamels made three All-Star video games with the Phillies, going 114-90 with a 3.30 ERA whereas ending within the high 10 in Cy Younger voting 4 instances. The Phillies gained 9 of Hamels’ 13 begins within the postseason, as he went 7-4 with a 3.09 ERA in his postseason profession with the franchise.
Merely put, Hamels is likely one of the best pitchers in Phillies historical past. He captivated a metropolis along with his poise and demeanor on the mound, an integral a part of the Phillies successful a championship.
A champion of this metropolis, Hamels believes this present group of Phillies — tied for one of the best win share in baseball at .662 — are subsequent to have a parade down Broad Avenue.
“They’ve it,” Hamels stated. “In that clubhouse, you see the enjoyable that they are having, the arrogance all of them have in one another. You see the similarities [to 2008], however they’re their very own crew.”
“After they go after one thing and so they know they’re prepared, they get the suitable folks, the suitable items. That is what Philly all the time does.”