Cole Hamels, a consistent left-handed starter over a 15-year MLB career, is on the Baseball Hall of Fame ballot for the first time for the Class of 2026. The former Phillies ace needs 75% of votes from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America for induction into Cooperstown. Results will be announced at 6 p.m. ET on January 20, live on MLB Network.
Cole Hamels built a strong Hall of Fame case through longevity, strikeouts, postseason success, and comparable stats to recent inductees.
Drafted first round out of high school in 2002, Hamels quickly became a Phillies ace. In 2007, at age 23, he posted a 3.39 ERA with 177 strikeouts in 183 1/3 innings, earning an NL All-Star nod and sixth place in Cy Young voting. From 2007 to 2016, he maintained a 3.26 ERA over 316 games, averaging nearly 200 strikeouts annually and making 30 or more starts for nine straight years. His peak included a 2.46 ERA in 2014 with 198 strikeouts, again finishing sixth in Cy Young balloting, and a no-hitter in 2015 before his trade to the Rangers. During this decade, he averaged 4.6 Baseball-Reference WAR per season and a 126 ERA+.
Post-prime, from 2017 to 2019, Hamels made 83 starts with a 3.92 ERA and 9.3 bWAR. His career totals include 2,560 strikeouts, ranking 34th all-time and making him one of 12 lefties to reach 2,500. Twenty-three of the 40 pitchers with 2,500-plus strikeouts are Hall of Famers.
In the postseason, Hamels excelled, especially in 2008 at age 24. He made five starts with a 1.80 ERA and 30 strikeouts in 35 innings, winning all for the Phillies en route to the World Series title. He earned NLCS MVP and World Series MVP, one of four pitchers to win both in a season. In 2010, he threw a shutout in the NLDS. Overall, his 16 playoff starts yielded a 3.41 ERA, better than several Hall of Fame aces like Randy Johnson (3.50) and CC Sabathia (4.28).
Hamels compares favorably to recent inductees. His 3.43 career ERA and 123 ERA+ surpass Sabathia's 3.74 and 116, with better strikeout and walk rates, though Sabathia leads in counting stats (62.3 bWAR to Hamels' 59.0). Versus Mike Mussina, Hamels' ERA is lower (3.43 vs. 3.68), with matching 123 ERA+. With 163 wins, Hamels lacks the 250-win milestone of past eras, but his resume aligns with modern starters deserving consideration.
