Phillies to celebrate one of the greatest pitchers in team history at Friday’s Toyota Cole Hamels Retirement Night

Fans should be in their seats by 6:25 p.m. for pregame festivities, which will also be live streamed on Apple TV+ and NBC Sports Philadelphia

June 18th, 2024

The Phillies will celebrate the career of one of their greatest pitchers in team history, 2008 World Series MVP Cole Hamels, during the Toyota Cole Hamels Retirement Ceremony on Friday, June 21, before that night’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Citizens Bank Park.

The on-field festivities will begin at 6:25 p.m., as the Phillies and special guests honor Hamels, who will officially retire as a Phillie. Hamels, who played for the club from 2006-2015, is one of the team’s homegrown core players who defined one of the most successful eras in franchise history. He is also the last active player from the 2008 World Series championship team to retire from Major League Baseball.

The special event will feature many of Hamels’ former Phillies coaches and teammates in attendance including Joe Blanton, Rich Dubee, Tom “Flash” Gordon, Charlie Manuel, Jamie Moyer, Roy Oswalt and Carlos Ruiz. Highlights also include a special presentation by Phillies Managing Partner and Chief Executive Officer John Middleton and Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt, as well as a video tribute celebrating Hamels’ career on PhanaVision.

In addition, Phillies players will wear a special patch on their jerseys during the game, and there will also be commemorative base jewels. All fans 15 and over will receive a 2009 National League Champions Replica Ring presented by Toyota.

Plus, there will be a variety of items for retail celebrating the retirement of Cole Hamels, including a commemorative T-shirt, side patch caps, novelty baseballs, pennants, pins and more, exclusively available now at the New Era Phillies Team Store.

A three-time NL All-Star (2007, 2011 and 2012), “Hollywood” Hamels can be found throughout the ranks of the club’s all-time leaders, ranking third in Phillies history in strikeouts (1,844), fourth in starts (294), sixth in both innings (1,930.) and wins (114) and eighth in winning percentage (.559). Hamels’ 40.5 fWAR is the fourth-highest all-time among Phillies pitchers, only behind Hall of Famers Steve Carlton (75.0), Robin Roberts (62.6) and Grover Alexander (50.8).

Fans are encouraged to follow @phillies on social media for additional behind-the-scenes coverage of the evening’s events. For more information, please visit phillies.com. Note: the game will be broadcast on Apple TV+ with Tom McCarthy, John Kruk, Taryn Hatcher and Friday Night Baseball’s Ryan Spilborghs. The pregame ceremony will be live streamed on both Apple TV+ and NBC Sports Philadelphia.