Porter: Thank You, Cole Hamels
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Nine years ago in Cincinnati when it all started, on a Friday night in May, Cole Hamels was clean-shaven and skinny. Awkwardly skinny in fact, donning an oversized road grey No. 35 Phillies uniform on top of a red long-sleeved shirt. His long dark hair flowing out of the bottom of his hat.
This 22-year-old kid from San Diego---called "Hollywood"---was the opposite of Philadelphia.
On this night, his first career start, the wide-eyed, tense lefty threw 92 pitches and 51 strikes in five innings. He struck out seven Reds' hitters, while walking just five and earning the win, allowing just one measly hit.
Photos: Cole Hamels through the years
Last Saturday, on a warm sunny day in Chicago, Cole Hamels is different.
He is a weathered veteran sporting a grizzly beard, and one of baseball's most consistently dominant pitchers of the last decade. Hamels is graceful and smooth taking the mound, donning that same road grey No. 35 Phillies uniform. This time, it fit perfectly. And this time, there was no under shirt.
While he still had his signature flow, he had owned it.
On this day, his 294th career start, a confident, poised Hamels threw 129 pitches and 83 strikes in nine innings. He struck out 13 Cubs' hitters, while walking just two and earning the win. This time, there would be no-hits allowed, as Hamels made history.
In between his electrifying debut in 2006 and his only no-hitter last weekend, Hamels piled up three all-star appearances, four top-10 NL Cy Young finishes, an NLCS MVP, a World Series MVP, and the city's first parade in a quarter century. That is the athlete.
Hamels, the person, married Survior: The Amazon contestant Heidi Strobel on New Year's Eve in 2006. In September 2008, the two created The Hamels Foundation, which supports low-income inner-city school systems globally. The Foundation has given over $1 million to local schools since 2009.
During his illustrious tenure in the city of brotherly love, Hamels transformed. The west-coast surfer looking dude, now 31-years-old, who was unfairly perceived as "soft" at times, became the epitome of Philadelphia, where he spent the last decade of his life.
On July 29th, reports began to circulate that the Phillies have traded one of their greatest pitchers ever to the Texas Rangers for a slew of prospects. Even the trade---when officially announced---will be history for Hamels, who will become the first pitcher since 1900 to throw a no-hitter and make his next start for a new team.
Hamels did it with class, he did it the right way. Now, he leaves unconditionally loved by Philly, without one negative comment or tweet about him, something that is incredibly rare for an athlete leaving this passionate sports town.
For context even the big, bad Angelo Cataldi said of Hamels Thursday morning on 94WIP, "I will root for him," in Texas.
As for Philadelphia, well they can only hope one of the prospects involved in the trade comes remotely close to Hamels the player.
Regardless, none of them will ever sniff the person.
