Left-handed pitcher Cole Hamels, who led the Philadelphia Phillies to the World Series in 2008, officially finished his career in his old team's uniform.
Hammels said goodbye to fans ahead of the 2024 Major League Baseball (MLB) Philadelphia and Arizona Diamondbacks at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on the 22nd (Korea time).
"You and we were one," Hammels said to fans after standing on a podium installed on the ground, "and I'm happy and grateful to have finished an amazing journey."
He wore a Philadelphia uniform with his No. 35 number on it and took the mound to pitch, and Carlos Lewis, the former Philadelphia catcher who played with Hammers in 2008, made a surprise appearance and received the ball. The two hugged each other on the ground, and fans gave him a standing ovation.
Philadelphia outfielder David Dahl played in the game with 31 numbers instead of his number 35, which Hammels wore as a respect.
In addition, Philadelphia players played with special patches on their jerseys to mark Hamels' retirement.
Hammers led the Philadelphia Phillies in its heyday. Since his big league debut with Philadelphia in 2006, Hammers was a team ace before moving to the Texas Rangers in 2015.
He won double-digit victories every season from 2007 to 2012, and started in Game 1 and Game 5 of the 2008 Tampa Bay Rays and World Series, receiving the MVP award with a 2.77 ERA.
He played for the Chicago Cubs and Atlanta Braves through Texas, and did not make it to the big leagues after 2020.
Hammels, who underwent shoulder surgery in 2021, signed a minor league contract with the San Diego Padres in February last year, but failed to return to the big leagues. Ultimately, he announced his retirement in August last year with 163 wins, 122 losses and an ERA of 3.43.
His former team, Philadelphia, set up a special place for Hamels, who said a meaningful goodbye. 토토사이트 추천