Bob Forsch is the only Pitcher in Cardinals history to pitch two no-hitters for the team and he is one of the most tenured hurlers for the team with nearly 20 years of service since he was drafted.  Forsch was a late round pick in 1968 and would finally crack the roster in 1974 and in 1977 he had his best season with a 20 and 7 record and his 163 Wins are third all-time in St. Louis history..  He would lead the NL in BB/9 the next season and was a member of the Cardinals 1982 World Series win, though he went 0-2 in that year’s Fall Classic.  Forsch was also a two time Silver Slugger winner with a .215 Batting Average with 12 Home Runs as a Cardinal.

Long before the Cardinals became a regular force in the National League, they struggled to find their identity during the Deadball Era. Amid this challenging period, Edward Joseph "Big Ed" Konetchy arrived to serve as the franchise’s first significant cornerstone. When he became a full-time player in 1908, the strong first baseman rapidly gained admiration from renowned managers like John McGraw, who once said that Konetchy alone was almost worth the entire St. Louis team.

Although the Cardinals often finished near the bottom during his seven seasons, Konetchy quietly established himself as one of the most underrated stars of his time. He consistently appeared on the National League leaderboards, ranking in the top ten in batting average three times and driving in enough runs to achieve four top-ten RBI finishes. His only standout achievement was in 1911 when he led the league with 38 doubles, but his overall offensive contribution was evident, earning him four top-ten finishes in bWAR among position players.

What set Konetchy truly apart and elevated him to elite status was his exceptional defense at the cold corner. Using his impressive 6-foot-2 build, he redefined what was expected from a first baseman's defense. Konetchy was incredibly effective, leading National League first basemen in both fielding percentage and range factor per game four times during his time with the St. Louis Cardinals. His reliable hands and strategic positioning turned what was an otherwise weak infield into a solid defensive unit.

Despite his impressive skills, his departure was sudden. Before the 1914 season, contract disagreements and conflicts resulted in his trade to Pittsburgh, and he eventually moved to the rebellious Federal League. His career, spread across six different teams, often causes his significant achievements in St. Louis to be overlooked, especially when compared to the long-time players who came after him. However, at the time of his departure, Konetchy was the franchise's all-time leader in hits, runs, and total bases—serving as a vital source of elite production during critical moments for the team.

In seven seasons in St. Louis (1907–1913), Konetchy played 982 games, with 1,013 hits, 158 doubles, 94 triples, and 36 home runs. He posted a .283/.353/409 line, a 125 OPS+, and stole 151 bases.

Johnny Leonard Roosevelt Martin went by "Pepper," but the name that captured his essence best was "The Wild Horse of the Osage." When you trace the DNA of the legendary, mud-splattered "Gashouse Gang" teams of the 1930s, it was Martin's unhinged, headfirst style that powered them. He didn't just play baseball; he attacked it, tearing up the basepaths with a reckless abandon that mirrored the gritty, hardscrabble spirit of a Depression-era fan base that absolutely adored him.

A career-long Cardinal, Martin made a couple of fleeting cameos in 1928 and 1930 before permanently kicking the door down in 1931. While he went on to earn four All-Star selections and topped the National League in stolen bases three separate times—pacing the circuit with modest but opportunistic totals of 26, 23, and 23 swipes—his true genius lay in his ability to weaponize his speed when the lights were brightest.

Nowhere was that more evident than in the 1931 World Series against a heavily favored Philadelphia Athletics squad. Martin turned the Fall Classic into a personal playground, torturing legendary catcher Mickey Cochrane by stealing five bases and punishing Philly pitching for a .500 batting average alongside a staggering 1.330 OPS. Reporters covering the series noted that his relentless energy single-handedly shifted the momentum, dragging the Cardinals to a world title. He repeated the October magic in 1934, hitting .355 to help St. Louis capture another championship banner.

While those early October runs made him a legend, 1933 stood out as the absolute peak of his regular-season powers. Rebounding from an injury-plagued sophomore slump, Martin shifted to third base and put together a monster campaign that earned him a starting nod in the inaugural MLB All-Star Game. He terrorized the National League from the leadoff spot, hitting a stellar .316 and pounding out 189 hits—including a May afternoon against the Phillies when he hit for the cycle. He used his lightning speed to lead the league with 122 runs scored and a career-high 26 stolen bases, fueling a top-five finish in the National League MVP race.

Yet, as magnetic as Martin was on the basepaths and at the plate, where he authored a lifetime .298 average, his placement in historical rankings faces a distinct hurdle. This evaluation framework places an uncompromising premium on defense, and that is where Martin’s ledger runs into trouble. He split his career between the outfield and third base, and frankly, he was a liability at both. His hands were rigid, his internal clock was erratic, and his aggressive nature frequently betrayed him, leading to ugly fielding percentages and a persistent defensive deficit that caps his overall value.

The relentless physical toll of his headfirst playing style eventually caught up to him. By 1941, injuries had entirely sapped his mobility, forcing him to step away from the major leagues to transition into a minor league player-manager role. However, the manpower shortage of World War II gave his Cardinals story one final, unexpected chapter. St. Louis called the 40-year-old veteran back up for a 40-game cameo in 1944.

Martin played in 1,189 games, racking up 1,227 hits, 756 runs scored, 59 home runs, and 501 RBIs. He authored a .298/.358/.443 slash line with a 113 OPS+, stole 146 bases

The Cardinals chose Martin for their franchise Hall of Fame in 2017.

Before the modern bullpen car or specialized late-inning relievers became common, Bill Sherdel was redefining pitching strategies in St. Louis. Joining in 1918, this small left-hander, known as "Wee Willie," had a fourteen-year career characterized by remarkable resilience and adaptability. Although he didn't throw as fast as the league’s top pitchers, his effective slowball and quick delivery allowed him to serve as a versatile pitcher capable of calming rallies in the seventh inning or pitching a complete game just two days later.

Sherdel spent nearly his entire career with the Cardinals, accumulating an impressive statistical record. As a consistent and reliable figure during multiple periods of Redbirds baseball, he quietly built a resume that places him among the franchise’s top pitchers. Today, he ranks in the top five in franchise history for wins (153), games pitched (465), and innings pitched (2,450.2), with his 242 starts just outside that group. His 153 wins still stand as the franchise record for most wins by a left-handed pitcher.

Although he was never the most flashy pitcher in the rotation, his unconventional deployment gave him an advantage that typical starters lacked. Managed by Branch Rickey, Sherdel often served as the team’s go-to reliever in critical moments. He led the National League in saves three times—in 1920, 1927, and 1928. While the official save totals from the 1920s are modest and often single digits, leading the league in this category three times highlights his reliability and trustworthiness in high-pressure, decisive situations.

His dependability was key to the franchise's early success in modern times. Sherdel played a vital role in winning the 1926 World Series, pitching significant innings and delivering two outstanding games in the Fall Classic against the New York Yankees. Despite facing some unlucky losses on the big stage, his readiness to take the mound in any situation helped lead the Cardinals to victory. He wasn't an overpowering star who relied on raw intimidation but a classic, adaptable workhorse whose durability helped build a path to championships.

Sherdel made 465 appearances (242 starts). He compiled a 153–131 record with a 3.64 ERA, throwing 2,450.2 innings over 14 seasons.