Phillies all-time best starting rotation based on WAR
By Edward Eng
No. 4: Cole Hamels (40.5 fWAR)
While Curt Schilling failed to lead the Phillies to the Holy Grail, Cole Hamels certainly finished the job. Drafted by Philadelphia in the first round of the 2002 MLB Draft, Hamels became a vital part of the team’s starting rotation for over a decade, from 2006 to 2015. His dominance helped the Phillies make the playoffs five consecutive seasons starting in 2007.
His most impactful moment in the organization came during the 2008 postseason run when he was named MVP of both the NLCS and World Series. Hamels went 4-0 with a stellar 1.80 ERA and 30 strikeouts in 35 innings pitched over five huge starts, helping Philadelphia take home the championship for just the second time in the team’s history.
In total, Hamels finished with an impressive 114-90 record as a Phillie, with a career 3.30 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 1,844 strikeouts as a Phillie. His 114 wins put him sixth on the Phillies all-time list. In addition, with 1,930 career innings, he ranks just behind Curt Simmons for sixth overall in innings pitched. Finally, his 1,844 punchouts place him third overall, ahead of Nola, for now.
Hamels ended his official tenure as a Phillie when he was dealt to the Texas Rangers in 2015. He led the Rangers on two postseason runs before moving on to the Chicago Cubs and Atlanta Braves to end his major league career.
He later attempted an inspiring comeback with his hometown San Diego Padres, but fell short, leading to his retirement announcement in August 2023. Nevertheless, Hamels’ resounding impact on the Phillies organization will never be forgotten.