Former Cardinals pitcher Bob Forsch dies
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Former St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Bob Forsch died Thursday night. He was 61 years old.
Forsch's wife told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that her husband had suffered an aneurysm in his upper chest.
Just a week ago, Forsch threw out the ceremonial first pitch before Game 7 of the World Series in St. Louis. The Cardinals went on to capture their 11th World Series title that night.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"We are deeply saddened by the sudden passing of Bob Forsch," said Cardinals chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. in a statement Friday. "Bob was a one of the best pitchers in the history of our organization and a valued member of the Cardinals family.
"Having been with Bob just last week, we are all stunned by this news. The entire Cardinals organization extends its sincere condolences to Bob's wife Janice, his two daughters Amy and Kristin, and his countless friends."
Forsch spent 15 seasons with the Cardinals from 1974-88 and is the only pitcher in franchise history with two no-hitters, throwing his first in 1978 and his second in 1983. He was a member of St. Louis' 1982 World Series championship team and also pitched in the 1985 and 1987 Fall Classics for the Cardinals.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}In 455 games, including 401 starts, for the Cardinals, the right-hander was 163-127 with a 3.67 earned run average. He was traded to Houston in August of 1988 and also spent his final season of 1989 with the Astros.
Only Bob Gibson (251) and Jesse Haines (210) have more wins in a Cardinals uniform than Forsch's 163. Forsch had most recently been a minor league pitching coach in the Cincinnati organization.
Forsch's older brother, Ken, pitched for the Astros and Angels from 1970-86. Ken threw a no-hitter for the Astros in 1979, making the Forsch brothers the only siblings with big league no-hitters.