MLB

Cole Hamels retires after multiple comeback attempts

Cole Hamels is officially hanging them up.

Hamels, the 2008 World Series and NLCS MVP with the Philadelphia Phillies, was put on the voluntarily retired list by the San Diego Padres on Friday after his latest comeback attempt.

The left-hander spent 15 years in the big leagues, racking up 163 wins and 2,560 strikeouts with a 3.43 ERA.

Hamels was drafted No. 17 overall in the 2002 MLB Draft by the Phillies and made his debut with the team in 2006.

At 23 years old, Hamels made the All-Star team in 2007, the first of four appearances in the mid-summer classic.

Cole Hamels no-hit the Chicago Cubs during his last game with the Philadelphia Phillies.
Cole Hamels no-hit the Chicago Cubs during his last game with the Philadelphia Phillies. Getty Images

The peak of Hamels’ impressive career came during Philadelphia’s 2008 World Series run when the southpaw posted a 1.80 ERA over 35 playoff innings.

Hamels spent the first ten seasons of his career in the City of Brotherly Love, and in his final start before being dealt to the Texas Rangers at the 2015 trade deadline, he threw the 13th no-hitter in franchise history.

Hamels hadn’t pitched in the majors since 2020 with the Atlanta Braves, though he was limited to just one start thanks to shoulder inflammation and arm fatigue.

Cole Hamels during his final MLB appearance.
Cole Hamels during his final MLB appearance. Getty Images

He also spent time with the Chicago Cubs in the 2018 and 2019 seasons.

Now 39, Hamels made multiple attempts to get back to the big leagues in recent years.

He also signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2021, but, like with the Padres, didn’t make any appearances.