If only the rain hadn’t come . . .

Game 5 of the 2008 World Series was called in the sixth inning due to a cold and steady downpour. The Philadelphia Phillies were tied with the Tampa Bay Rays 2-2 at the time. Cole Hamels was the pitcher for the Phillies, who were ahead in the series 3-1. If the rain hadn’t come, if the Phillies had pulled off a victory, if they had won the game, they would have won the World Series and Cole Hamels could have carried the win.

But the rain came, the game was suspended and the Series still ain’t over.

Cole Hamels was signed by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 2002 Major League Baseball Draft. He started to work his way through the minor league, intermittently benched with injuries.

Hamels was first called up to the major league on May 12, 2006. He got no decision on his first two starts and then was laid up with an injury. So he didn’t get his first Major League decision until June 6, when he earned a win on the strength of the Phillies’ 10-1 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks. Hamels finished his rookie year with a 9-8 record and a ERA.

In 2007, Hamels got some important firsts – and seconds – of his career. On April 21, he got his first career complete game, striking out 15, a career best, in the process. On May 16, he was working a perfect game as far as the 7^th inning. But he walked a batter and gave up a home run. He still got the win, though, striking out 11 batters as the Phillies beat the Milwaukee Brewers 6-2. He won his ninth game of the season on June 12 to lead the National League in wins. Then, after another stint on the 15-day disability list, he struck out 13 as the Phillies beat the Washington Nationals 8-0 and stepped into first place. The Phillies proceeded to lose to the Colorado Rockies in the National League Division Championships, three games to zero. Hamels lost his first post-season appearance in Game 1, 4-2.

His record for the 2007 season was 15-5, with a 3.39 ERA. He struck out 177 and walked only 43.

On May 15, 2008, he pitched his first complete game shutout. It was against the Atlanta Braves. He liked it so much, he followed it up with another complete game shutout, this time against the Cincinnati Reds, on June 5. He finished the season with a 14-10 record and an ERA of 3.09.

When the Phillies made it to the post-season for the second year in a row, both Hamels and the team performed better than in 2007. The Phillies beat the Milwaukee Brewers in the NLDS, three games to one. Hamels won the Game 1. The Phillies beat the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS four games to one. Hamels got two of the victories, winning Game 1 3-2 and Game 5 5-1. His two wins and his 1.93 ERA in the NLCS earned him the MVP Award for the series. When the Phillies progressed to the World Series, Hamels was called on to start Game 1. The Phillies defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 3-2. They were leading the Series three games to one going into Game 5. But that was the game that was called for rain. Will Phillies win the World Series? Will Hamels have another turn on the mound before the Series is over? Watch this space.

Cole Hamels wears Phillies jersey number 35. He throws and bats left handed. He was born December 27, 1983 in San Diego, California. He now lives with his wife, Heidi Strobel, in West Chester, Pennsylvania.