All 9 no-hitters in Cardinals history

The Cardinals’ history is full of pitching prowess, with Bob Gibson coming to mind, and the team has seen no-hitters come in bunches. From 1968 through 1978, St. Louis had three no-hitters -- including one by Gibson in 1971 -- after not having thrown one since 1941. A similar stretch occurred in 1999 and 2001, when the team threw two after not throwing one since 1983.

Here’s a look back at all nine no-hitters in Cardinals’ franchise history.

Sept. 3, 2001: Bud Smith
Cardinals 3, Padres 0

Smith was a 21-year-old rookie for the Cardinals in 2001, making just his 13th career appearance and 11th start. On the road in San Diego, he kept the Padres hitless for all nine, shutting down a lineup that included Rickey Henderson, Ryan Klesko and Phil Nevin. It was Smith’s first -- and only -- career shutout and complete game, of any kind.

June 25, 1999: Jose Jimenez
Cardinals 1, Diamondbacks 0

After a brief cup of coffee in 1998, Jimenez was in the midst of his first full season in the Majors in 1999, and would ultimately finish with a 5.85 ERA. But in his 15th start of the season in Arizona, he was practically flawless, walking two and hitting a batter but not allowing a hit. Luis Gonzalez and Matt Williams were both hitting well above .300, but that was no matter to Jimenez, who struck each out once and kept everyone hitless. Before Jimenez, the Cardinals hadn’t had a no-hitter in more than 15 years.

Sept. 26, 1983: Bob Forsch
Cardinals 3, Expos 0

Forsch is the only pitcher to throw two no-hitters in a Cardinals uniform. His second came in September 1983, and is still the last no-hitter to be thrown in St. Louis -- for the Cardinals or against them. He held an Expos team with Terry Francona hitting leadoff and Andre Dawson, Tim Raines and Gary Carter all hitless. Forsch faced two more than the minimum, as he hit Carter with a pitch and then saw Chris Speier reach on an E4 on consecutive batters in the second inning.

April 16, 1978: Bob Forsch
Cardinals 5, Phillies 0

Forsch threw his first no-hitter in 1978, marking the team's first no-no in St. Louis since 1924. After collecting a career-high 20 wins in 1977, Forsch opened 1978 in stellar fashion, going 2-0 and allowing just two runs in 16 1/3 innings entering his start against the Phillies on April 16. The right-hander's run of success continued as he tossed the sixth no-hitter in franchise history, allowing just two walks among the 29 batters he faced.

Aug. 14, 1971: Bob Gibson
Cardinals 11, Pirates 0

While Gibson's best season came in 1968, he was still a dominant force on the mound three years later at age 35. Facing the Pirates in Pittsburgh on Aug. 14, Gibson threw the only no-hitter of his Hall of Fame career, striking out 10 of the 31 batters he faced. Gibson also contributed to the 11-0 rout with his bat, notching a sac fly in the fifth inning and a two-run single in the eighth as part of a three-RBI performance.

Sept. 18, 1968: Ray Washburn
Cardinals 2, Giants 0

Although 1968 -- the so-called "Year of the Pitcher" -- ultimately belonged to Bob Gibson, who won the National League MVP and Cy Young Awards after recording a 1.12 ERA, it was Washburn who threw a no-hitter that season. Taking the mound one day after the Giants' Gaylord Perry no-hit the Cards at Candlestick Park, Washburn returned the favor. It was the first time in Major League history that a no-hitter was thrown on consecutive days.

Aug. 30, 1941: Lon Warneke
Cardinals 2, Reds 0

There was just one MLB no-hitter thrown between Dodgers right-hander Tex Carleton's on April 30, 1940, and Braves righty Jim Tobin's on April 27, 1944, with Warneke accomplishing the feat in August 1941. The right-hander faced just one batter over the minimum as he held the Reds hitless in a 2-0 win.

Sept. 21, 1934: Paul Dean
Cardinals 3, Dodgers 0

Of the two Dean brothers, Dizzy had a much better career, making the Hall of Fame in 1953. However, Paul was the only one of the two to throw a no-hitter, doing so as a rookie in 1934, the same year Dizzy won 30 games and the National League MVP Award. Dizzy actually came close to throwing one earlier in the day, as he held the Dodgers hitless through 7 1/3 innings before allowing a single in Game 1 of a doubleheader at Ebbets Field. In Game 2, Paul did what his brother couldn't, completing a no-no by retiring the final 25 batters he faced. That ended a drought of 1,140 days between MLB no-hitters, still the longest in history.

July 17, 1924: Jesse Haines
Cardinals 5, Braves 0

Although Ted Breitenstein threw a no-hitter for the St. Louis Browns of the American Association in 1891, accomplishing the feat in his first career start, the first recognized no-no in Cardinals franchise history belongs to Haines, who threw his against the Braves in 1924. Haines, a Hall of Famer since he was elected by the Veterans Committee in 1970, walked three but was otherwise untouchable in the 5-0 win.