Player Name: Cole Hamels
Set From: 2002 Bowman, Bowman Chrome
Why are these cards a must have?: I’m not sure how many of you followed Cole’s ascension through the minors, but it was fast. I know this because I lived in Pennsylvania at the time and went to many of his minor league games. I got to see my first glimpse of him in Lakewood where he just dominated the hitters of the SAL. He went 6-1 with an ERA of 0.86, and 115 strikeouts in 75 innings. Then the next year I got to see him in Reading where he was 2-0 with 19 strikeouts in 19 innings. Finally I got to see him in Scranton the following year, clearly ready for the show he went 2-0 with a 0.39 ERA in 3 starts. He was just someone I knew was going to be a superstar in this league. He didn’t let us down either. He was a 15 game winner in 2007 and a 14 game winner in 2008. He led the NL in WHIP last year with a 1.082. He was 6th in Cy Young voting in 2007, and attended his only All Star game that year. Last year he was not only the NLCS MVP but also the WS MVP and he was a major reason why the Phillies won the World Series. His career is off to a very good start, and I don’t hesitate to put him on this list at all because I know he is a superstar for years to come. He is a smart pitcher who works the whole plate and doesn’t rely on just one pitch. I expect to see quite a few 14 and 15 win seasons in his future.
On a scale of 1 – 10, how must have are these cards: 2, he is so young and only really has 3 full seasons under his belt. At the end of his career I see him as a 6. In the book they run anywhere from $15 – $40, on eBay they seem to be running anywhere from a $4 – $15, of course you can expect to pay more depending on grade and population.
Got any Cole Hamels stories? Leave us a comment on how you feel about Cole and what you think his rating should be not only now, but at the end of his career.
Hamels also has some degree of media savvy and a celeb wife which probably will keep him in the public eye and bump his card values.
I loved Cole Hamels and remembered finding COLE HAMELS FACTS while he was in the minors. I thought it was the best page devoted to a minor-leaguer ever..
# Jack Bauer calls Cole Hamels for advice.
# Cole Hamels is the only person Barbara Bush fears.
and then the one that sealed the deal for me…
One time Cole Hamels spent 40 days in the desert. To survive, he ate whole camels.
I cannot believe they’re almost at 2000 now! I haven’t checked this website in 4 years.. http://www.colehamelsfacts.com
I would say the brand new Camaro he won for being named World Series MVP is a 10/10 on the must-have scale!
I just met Cole at the Phillies Phestival on 6/22.
He was the first player at his booth…10 minutes early.
I got 2 items signed (a jersey and an 8×10 of him with WS MVP trophy). He was real nice to everyone.