NEW YORK — Johan Santana and Terry Collins have no regrets. 

A decade ago, Santana would not give in as he authored the Mets' first no-hitter. Collins respected his ace's wish to remain in the game despite needing 134 pitches to leave an indelible mark in Mets history. 

Santana achieved something that none of the Mets' other great pitchers, whether it be Tom Seaver, Dwight Gooden or David Cone, had accomplished. He held the Cardinals hitless while striking out eight batters and walking five exactly a decade ago on June 1, 2012.

Santana, who was in his first season returning from surgery to repair a torn anterior capsule in his pitching shoulder, would only pitch in 10 more major-league games before retearing that capsule during spring training in 2013. He would never pitch in Major League Baseball after 2012.

"As we were going through the season, everything was working pretty good," Santana said. "To say that game was the one, that’s why I always say to you guys, ‘No.’ I already knew that there was a lot going through my shoulder.

"In fact, there was a limit that we had in innings for the season. I was going to reach my limit pretty soon after that game. At that point, we’re just competing, competing, and we had a great run. I wouldn’t change anything."

After every game during 2012, Santana gave feedback to the Mets' trainers and medical staff. He did not feel 100 percent, but continued to battle through. 

Despite being on a pitch count, Santana said he was not going to be denied his chance at completing the no-hitter even if it meant arguing with Collins on the mound, in the dugout or in the parking lot.

Collins, once tearful in the wake of Santana's workload in that game, would not draw it up differently one decade later. Collins said he was only concerned with Santana's health "more than anything else."

"I felt that he deserved the opportunity to try to get it because of who he is and what he stands for," Collins said. "It was something I thought, the people that were in the stands, they deserved to see that and have the opportunity.

"It’s easy to say, ‘No, I wouldn’t do it again.’ I know that probably hurt him a little bit afterwards because of throwing that many pitches, but I have come to realize that I probably would’ve done exactly the same thing."

Santana labored through ankle and back injuries later that season.

Despite an unfortunate end to Santana's career after the 2012 season, his no-hitter 10 years ago remains one of the greatest achievements in the history of the franchise.

More Santana:What Johan Santana remembers about tossing lone no-hitter in Mets history

Santana joked that the only no-hitter he had ever thrown before that day in 2012 came in a video game.

Santana was known for his competitive fire. Collins remembers Santana interrupting a pitching drill with around 12 or 13 other players to make sure everyone was doing the drill correctly.

And that urgency to remain in the game came out on that fateful night.

"As we were going, I was like, ‘Maybe this is it. We might have a chance to do something very special, very important,’" Santana said. "Every time I took the mound, every time, I was very serious about what I was doing. That night was not any different. It just happened to be that night. I feel very blessed to have the opportunity to be the first one."

Collins learned during the game that there had never been a no-hitter in the history of the Mets. He believed that Santana, a two-time Cy Young winner and four-time All-Star, could be that guy, even as his pitch count swelled.

"That became part of the thought process," Collins said. "Here’s a guy that’s got a chance to do it. As I’ve said before, I thought he deserved that opportunity to go and get it. Obviously today, you wouldn’t even consider it. At that particular time, he deserved that chance."

Josh Thole, who caught Santana's no-hitter, understands what that moment can mean in the scheme of a player's career.

As Tylor Megill, Drew Smith, Joely Rodriguez, Seth Lugo and Edwin Diaz combined to toss the Mets' second no-hitter on April 29, the text messages began to light up Thole's phone.

Related:What the Mets were saying after their combined no-hitter over Phillies

"I think it’s just a feather in your cap. It’s something you’ll never be able to take away from any of those guys," Thole said. "They’ll always have that and it’ll go on their little record sheet. I think it’s important for the organization as well as it’s important for the players."

While Collins said he watched that performance and was excited, he conceded that he believes one player achieving that milestone is even more exceptional.

"To throw a no-hitter’s hard. There’s good players out there," Collins said. "To have five guys do it, I think it’s great, but to have one guy do it where you’re talking about a guy who’s getting tired, the adrenaline is going to carry you through some of it, but late in the game, you’ve got to execute like something special, which (Santana) did."

There have been 316 no-hitters in Major League Baseball history, with 17 being combined efforts. But as the game evolves, Santana expects that singular no-hitters will be even more rare.

And that makes his risk to continue to pitch even more worthwhile.

"I think at the end of the day, they worry about the W more than a no-hitter, and that’s the way it is," Santana said. "To get a single performance like that, it’s going to take some time and the right guy."

Andrew Tredinnick is the Mets beat writer for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to all Mets analysis, news, trades and more, please subscribe today and download our app. 

Email: atredinnick@gannett.com Twitter: @andrew_tred