[RCOW] Bud Smith | The Last No-Hitter in St. Louis

In this episode, we revisit a night in September 2001 that should have been the start of a legendary career. Bud Smith was the Cardinals' #1 prospect—ranked even higher than a young Albert Pujols. At just 21 years old, he achieved what Bob Gibson and Jesse Haines only did once, and what modern aces like Adam Wainwright never could: he threw a no-hitter.But while Bud Smith still holds the title of the last Cardinal to throw a "no-no," his story is also one of the most mysterious "What Ifs" in franchise history.In this episode, we discuss:The Ranking: A look back at the 2001 prospect list where Bud Smith sat at the top, just ahead of future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols.The Masterpiece: The 134-pitch marathon in San Diego where a rookie navigated a lineup featuring Rickey Henderson, Tony Gwynn, and Ryan Klesko.The Trade: How a no-hit hero was packaged in the deal for Scott Rolen, only to never pitch in the Big Leagues again.The Curse: Why the Cardinals haven’t seen a no-hitter in over two decades since Bud walked off the mound."Sometimes the brightest flames burn out the fastest."