St. Louis Cardinals: Anyone remember who Bud Smith is?

Bud Smith was a left-handed pitcher from the St. Louis Cardinals where he developed a brilliant yet fleeting trajectory for exactly one year and 40 days.

Robert Alan “Bud” Smith was born on October 23, 1979 (40 years old now) in Torrance, California. He studied at San Bosco HS from which the Detroit Tigers selected him in the 9th round of the 1996 MLB Draft. He turned down the offer and then in 1997, at the age of 19, the St. Louis Cardinals drafted him in the 4th round from Los Angeles Harbor College.

In 1998, St. Louis sent him to their Johnson City Affiliate in the Appalachian Rookie League, where he compiled a 5.18 ERA, promoting him in 1999 to Low-A Peoria in the Mid West League, where he had a 2.83 ERA. After that, he was promoted to High-A Potomac of the Carolina League, where he had a 2.96 ERA for a total record in 1999 8-10 with just a 2.92 ERA.

In 2000 the St. Louis Cardinals sent Smith to its Arkansas affiliate in the Texas AA League, where Bud Smith began registering spectacular figures, leaving a record of 12 wins and just one loss, with a 2.32 ERA and two games of 7 innings without a hit. Having earned the Texas League  “Pitcher of the Year,” he was included on the after-season All-Star team.

Smith’s great performance shown in Arkansas earned him a boost that same year to the AAA Affiliate in Memphis, where he put up a 5-1 win/loss mark with a 2.15 ERA for a fantastic combined total in that year of 17–2 with a 2.26 ERA. That year, Baseball America ranked him as the 39th prospect in all of baseball.

In 2001 Smith remained in Memphis showing his great class with records with a 2.75 ERA (and another All-Star team), so he was called to the MLB where he debuted with St. Louis Cardinals on June 10, 2001. It was during that year that he had the best moment of his career. On August 3, at the Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, Bud Smith threw the last no-hitter by a St. Louis Cardinal. He walked four, but he stunned the San Diego Padres in a 2.47-hour game in front of a 36,535-seater attendance.

Bud Smith needed 134 pitches to get 27 batters out, St. Louis Cardinals Pitching Coach Dave Duncan later stated that in his mind he wished San Diego would’ve gotten a hit so they could’ve saved Smith’s arm.

Out 27 eventually came when Phil Nevin pulled a ground ball to the Smith who threw to 1st base to end the game. Smith became the 18th rookie pitcher to throw a no-hitter since 1900.

That year, the Cardinals had an extraordinary mix of young and experienced pitchers: lefties Rick Ankiel, Bud Smith (same age), and Mike Matthews. Righties Darryl Kile (R.I.P.), Matt Morris, the brothers Andy Benes and Alan Benes, and Woody Williams.

They were supported by relief pitchers Dave Veres and Steve Kline as well as position players like Mike Matheny, Bobby Bonilla, John Mabry, Mark McGwire, Edgar Renteria, Fernando Vina, Placido Polanco, J.D. Drew, Craig Paquette, and of course the sensational Albert Pujols in his debut year.

For its part, the San Diego Padres presented a lineup with players such as Rickey Henderson, Ryan Klesko, Phil Nevin, ex-Cardinal Ray Lankford, and Bubba Trammell. The defeated pitcher was Bobby Jones who allowed Albert Pujols’ 32nd homer at the first inning with one on base.

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In 2001, Bud Smith finished it with a 3.83 ERA and 4.38 FIP in 16 games, having received MLB recognitions as Pitcher of the Week and finishing 4th in the vote for Rookie of the Year.

Smith was no longer the same in 2002, his 2nd year in MLB (Sophomore year). From the start of the season to July 19th, he registered a 6.94 ERA, so St. Louis decided to trade him on that date together with Placido Polanco to the Philadelphia Phillies from whom the Cardinals received back the tremendous player Scott Rolen and reliever Doug Nickle, thus ending a brilliant and fleeting career with the Cardinals.

What Smith did subsequently was irrelevant, as Philadelphia sent him to their Minor Leagues right away. Moving in 2005 to the Minnesota Twins, Smith was still kept at AAA and from there in 2006 he took refuge on the Golden Baseball League’s in Long Beach Armada team, officially retiring in 2007.

What were Bud Smith’s achievements in MLB with St. Louis Cardinals.?

*Bud Smith, during his brief stay in St. Louis, had a 7-8 win/loss mark with a 4.95 ERA and a 4.50 FIP in 27 appearances.
*Bud Smith is the last St. Louis Cardinals pitcher to pitch a no-hitter (almost 19 years ago).
*Bud Smith also has the distinction of being the last player to wear the No. 51 that HOF Willie McGee wore throughout his career. Smith had to change the number of his uniform to No. 52 for the discontent many fans had who disagreed that he used that number.

The memories left from Bud Smith during his tenure in St. Louis begs the question of how so much talent can be shown and at the same time wasted in such a short time? Lack of interest or motivation? Emotional problems? Just bad luck? It’s something that only he can answer now at 40 years old. Either way, Smith is etched into St. Louis Cardinals’ history.