Lee May

Lee Andrew May (March 23, 1943 – July 29, 2017) was an American professional baseball player who competed as a first baseman, outfielder, and designated hitter in Major League Baseball (MLB) for 18 seasons from 1965 to 1982.^[1] Known for his power hitting, May earned the nickname "The Big Bopper" and finished his career with a .267 batting average, 354 home runs, and 1,244 runs batted in across 2,071 games.^[2][3] May began his MLB career with the Cincinnati Reds, where he debuted on September 1, 1965, after signing as an amateur free agent in 1961 and progressing through their minor league system.^[4] He emerged as a key power threat for the Reds' "Big Red Machine" era, posting 11 consecutive seasons of at least 20 home runs from 1968 to 1978 and driving in 100 or more runs in three straight years (1969–1971).^[3] Selected to three All-Star Games (1969, 1971, 1972), he contributed to the Reds' 1970 World Series appearance, though they lost to the Baltimore Orioles.^[4] Traded to the Houston Astros in November 1971 in a deal that brought Joe Morgan to Cincinnati, May continued his productivity with 100-RBI seasons for three different teams—a rare feat shared by only 11 players in MLB history—before joining the Orioles in 1975 and later the Kansas City Royals.^[3][4] In addition to his on-field accomplishments, May was inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and maintained family ties to baseball, as the brother of former White Sox outfielder Carlos May and grandfather to MLB player Jacob May.^[5] He passed away in Cincinnati from complications related to pneumonia and heart disease at age 74.^[6]

Early Life and Background

High School Career

May attended A.H. Parker High School in Birmingham, Alabama, where he emerged as a three-sport standout in football, basketball, and baseball.^[3][7] Standing at 6 feet 2 inches and weighing 190 pounds during his high school years, he showcased athletic prowess across disciplines, contributing to team successes in football and basketball.^[3] In baseball, May distinguished himself as a power hitter, earning recognition from scouts for his raw strength and potential at the plate.^[3] While specific high school statistics are not widely documented, his performances generated interest from professional organizations, highlighting his ability to drive the ball with force.^[3] His multi-sport dominance, including leading football efforts to county and city titles as a fullback and playing forward on a basketball championship team for four years, underscored his versatility and physicality.^[3] May's high school exploits also drew college football recruitment, notably a fullback scholarship offer from the University of Nebraska under coach Bob Devaney in 1961.^[7][8] This attention reflected his hard-nosed playing style and athletic promise beyond baseball.^[7]

Entry into Professional Baseball

May, a standout athlete at A.H. Parker High School in Birmingham, Alabama, attracted attention from professional scouts due to his power hitting as a first baseman and outfielder, despite also excelling in football and basketball with college scholarship offers, including one for football from the University of Nebraska.^[3] Cincinnati Reds scout Jimmy Bragan, recognizing May's potential, approached him and his family, emphasizing immediate earnings and the option to attend college during offseasons to persuade May's grandmother against pushing for higher education first.^[3] Bragan's pitch highlighted baseball's safer career path compared to football, influencing May's decision to forgo college.^[3] On June 1, 1961, the Reds signed the 17-year-old May as an amateur free agent, providing a $12,000 signing bonus that reflected his raw power and athletic promise in an era before the MLB draft formalized amateur signings.^[9][3] This contract marked May's entry into professional baseball, bypassing the nascent amateur draft system that would begin two years later in 1965, and positioned him for minor league development rather than immediate college play.^[4] Following the signing, May reported to the Reds' organization, beginning his professional journey in the lower minors.^[1]

Minor League Career

Development and Progression

May signed with the Cincinnati Reds as an amateur free agent in 1961 for a $12,000 signing bonus, scouted by Jimmy Bragan after forgoing a University of Nebraska football scholarship.^[3][4] He began his professional career with the Class D Tampa Tarpons of the Florida State League, where manager Johnny Vander Meer transitioned him from outfield to first base to capitalize on his size and hitting potential.^[3] Initially not on the active roster in Tampa, May experienced early disconnection but adjusted his batting stance under coach John "Red" Davis, which helped stabilize his approach.^[3] In his debut season of 1961, May batted .260 with 9 RBIs over 26 games for Tampa, showing modest contact skills but limited power.^[3] He repeated at Tampa in 1962, improving durability with a .260 average across 89 games while refining his swing mechanics.^[3] Progression accelerated in 1963 with a promotion to Class B Rocky Mount in the Carolina League, where his raw power emerged, hitting 18 home runs amid developing plate discipline.^[3] By 1964, at Double-A Macon in the Southern League, May demonstrated consistent slugging with 25 home runs, solidifying his status as a top power prospect in the Reds' system.^[3] His rapid ascent culminated in 1965 at Triple-A San Diego in the Pacific Coast League, where he posted a .321 batting average and 34 home runs, earning league MVP honors and showcasing elite production that prompted his major league call-up on September 1, 1965.^[3] This annual advancement through six minor league seasons highlighted May's physical tools and adaptability, transforming him from a bonus signee with contact-oriented stats to a premier home run threat ready for the majors.^[4][3]

Major League Career

Cincinnati Reds (1965–1971)

May debuted with the Cincinnati Reds on September 1, 1965, appearing as a pinch hitter at Crosley Field and going 0-for-1 in the game.^[3] He played in five games that year without recording a hit.^[1] Limited by established players like Gordy Coleman at first base and outfielders Frank Robinson and Pete Rose, May saw sporadic action in 1966, batting .333 with 2 home runs in 25 games.^[1] Transitioning primarily to first base under coaching from Don Heffner, he refined his defense while coach John "Red" Davis adjusted his batting stance to emphasize power, setting the stage for his emergence as a slugger.^[3] May broke out in 1967, earning The Sporting News National League Rookie of the Year honors after batting .265 with 12 home runs and 57 RBIs in 127 games, helping the Reds finish third in the NL.^[3] His power continued to develop in 1968, leading the team with 22 home runs while hitting .290 and driving in 80 runs over 146 games.^[3] The following year, 1969, marked his first All-Star selection, as he slugged 38 home runs—third in the National League—and set a career high with 110 RBIs, batting .278 in 158 games.^[2][1] Source: Compiled from yearly statistics.^[1] In 1970, May contributed to the Reds' National League pennant with 34 home runs and 94 RBIs in the regular season, including the final home run hit at Crosley Field on June 24.^[3] He batted 2-for-12 with 2 RBIs in the NLCS sweep over the Atlanta Braves and .389 with 2 home runs and 8 RBIs in the World Series loss to the Baltimore Orioles, highlighted by a three-run homer in Game 4 that accounted for Cincinnati's only victory.^[3][10] May's 1971 season peaked with career highs of 39 home runs and a second All-Star appearance, earning the Reds' Ernie Lombardi MVP Award despite the team's fourth-place finish; he placed 12th in NL MVP voting.^[2][1] Over seven seasons with Cincinnati, May played 761 games, batting .269 with 147 home runs and 449 RBIs, establishing himself as a cornerstone power hitter in the early "Big Red Machine" era before his trade to the Houston Astros after the season.^[1][3]

Houston Astros (1972–1974)

May was acquired by the Houston Astros on November 29, 1971, in a multi-player trade that sent him, along with infielder Tommy Helms and utility player Jimmy Stewart, from the Cincinnati Reds to Houston in exchange for second baseman Joe Morgan, infielder Denis Menke, pitcher Jack Billingham, outfielder César Gerónimo, and outfielder Ed Armbrister.^[9] The deal was viewed at the time as bolstering the Astros' lineup with May's proven power at first base, though it later proved lopsided in Cincinnati's favor due to Morgan's subsequent MVP seasons.^[11] In 1972, May assumed the primary first base role for the Astros, appearing in 148 games while batting .284 with 29 home runs and 98 RBIs.^[1] His performance earned him his third career All-Star selection, where he recorded a single and turned an unassisted double play on July 25 at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium.^[12] May finished ninth in National League MVP voting, providing consistent power amid the Astros' 57-85 finish, the worst in franchise history to that point.^[1] May maintained his productivity in 1973, playing 148 games and hitting .270 with 28 home runs and a team-leading 105 RBIs.^[1] A highlight came on June 21 against the San Diego Padres, when he hit three home runs in a 12-2 Astros victory, tying a franchise record and powering a complete game by pitcher Ken Forsch.^[13] Despite finishing 19th in NL MVP balloting, May's output anchored Houston's offense during another sub-.500 season (71-91).^[1] May's tenure concluded in 1974 with 152 games at .268, including 24 home runs and 85 RBIs, though his production dipped slightly from prior years.^[1] Over his three seasons in Houston, he slugged 81 home runs and drove in 288 runs while batting .274 overall, serving as the team's primary power threat despite defensive questions at first base and the franchise's ongoing struggles to contend in the NL West.^[1]

Baltimore Orioles (1975–1980)

May was acquired by the Baltimore Orioles in a trade from the Houston Astros on December 3, 1974, along with catcher Jay Schlueter, in exchange for infielder Enos Cabell and minor-league infielder Rob Andrews.^[9] Joining a contending Orioles team featuring stars like Brooks Robinson and Jim Palmer, May served primarily as a first baseman and designated hitter, bringing right-handed power to the lineup as protection for left-handed hitters such as Ken Singleton and John Lowenstein.^[1] In his first season with Baltimore in 1975, May posted a .274 batting average with 24 home runs and 80 RBIs over 146 games, contributing to the Orioles' 90-win campaign that fell short of the playoffs.^[1] His performance peaked in 1976, when he batted .279 with 29 home runs and a league-leading 109 RBIs, earning the Orioles' Most Valuable Player Award and helping the team secure a division title before their loss in the American League Championship Series to the New York Yankees.^[2][1] May's RBI total marked the highest single-season figure of his career and underscored his value as a run producer in the middle of the order. May's production dipped in subsequent years amid increasing injuries and competition for playing time. In 1977, he hit .245 with 19 home runs and 60 RBIs in 140 games, while 1978 saw him bat .236 with 23 home runs and 72 RBIs.^[1] The 1979 season brought a return to the postseason for Baltimore, which won the American League East, but May appeared in only 78 games due to a knee injury, managing a .246 average with 10 home runs and 43 RBIs in limited action.^[3] In the World Series against the Pittsburgh Pirates, he was relegated to pinch-hitting duties, recording two appearances with no hits as the Orioles lost in seven games.^[3] May rebounded somewhat in 1980, batting .247 with 18 home runs and 65 RBIs over 128 games, but his role diminished as younger players emerged.^[1] Over six seasons with the Orioles, May compiled a .254 batting average, 123 home runs, and 487 RBIs in 794 games, providing consistent power despite defensive limitations at first base and later as a DH.^[14] He departed as a free agent on October 23, 1980, signing with the Kansas City Royals the following year.^[9]

Kansas City Royals (1981–1982)

Following the 1980 season, during which he had become a free agent after his contract with the Baltimore Orioles expired, May signed with the Kansas City Royals on December 9, 1980, to serve in a part-time role as a first baseman, designated hitter, and pinch hitter.^[15][3] In the 1981 season, shortened by a players' strike that divided play into two halves, May appeared in 26 games for the Royals, who finished with an overall record of 50-53 and fourth in the American League West.^[16] He batted .291 with 16 hits in 55 at-bats, recording 3 doubles, no home runs, 8 RBIs, and a .345 slugging percentage, primarily as a backup and situational hitter.^[1][2] May saw increased playing time in 1982, appearing in 42 games while primarily splitting duties between first base and designated hitter.^[3] He batted .308 with 28 hits in 91 at-bats, including 5 doubles, 2 triples, 3 home runs, 12 RBIs, and a .505 slugging percentage.^[1][2] Despite the respectable average at age 39, the Royals released him in November 1982, after which he retired from playing.^[3]

Career Statistics and Accomplishments

Key Statistical Milestones

Lee May concluded his 18-season Major League Baseball career with 354 home runs, ranking him among the era's prolific power hitters.^[1] He also amassed 1,244 runs batted in (RBIs), 2,031 hits, and a .267 batting average across 1,850 games, primarily as a first baseman and outfielder.^[3] His slugging percentage of .447 underscored his consistent extra-base production, particularly in driving in runs during high-leverage situations.^[1] May's peak power came in 1969 with the Cincinnati Reds, when he led the National League with 110 RBIs while hitting 38 home runs.^[1] The following year, in the 1970 World Series against the Baltimore Orioles, he tied a single-series record with 8 RBIs, batting .389 (7-for-18) as the Reds fell in five games.^[3] His career-high 39 home runs occurred in 1971, split between the Reds (21) and Houston Astros (18) after a midseason trade on June 14.^[4] He achieved three 30-home-run seasons (1969, 1970, 1971) and reached 100 RBIs with each of his primary teams: 106 with the Reds in 1972 (after returning briefly? Wait, no—actually, 100+ with Reds, Astros, Orioles).^[3] A hallmark of May's longevity was his durability in producing power and run production, with 11 consecutive seasons (1968–1978) of at least 20 home runs and 80 RBIs—a streak spanning the Reds, Astros, and Orioles.^[4] This consistency placed him among select players of his generation for sustained output without All-Star frequency, though he earned three All-Star selections (1969, 1971, 1972).^[1] In 1976 with the Orioles, he led the American League with 24 intentional walks, reflecting opponents' respect for his clutch hitting.^[3]

Awards and Recognitions

May was selected as a National League All-Star in 1969 and 1971 while with the Cincinnati Reds, and again in 1972 as the starting first baseman for the Astros.^[2][17] In 1968, his first full major league season, May earned the Sporting News National League Rookie Player of the Year award after batting .290 with 22 home runs and 80 RBI.^[18] He received the Reds' Ernie Lombardi Most Valuable Player Award in 1971, recognizing his team-leading 39 home runs and 98 RBI.^[2] With the Orioles in 1976, following a season with 25 home runs and a league-leading 109 RBI, May won the Louis M. Hatter Most Valuable Oriole Award.^[1] Posthumously, May was inducted into the Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame in 1998, acknowledging his contributions including a .272 batting average and 119 home runs over six seasons.^[4] He entered the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame in 2006, honoring his role in the late 1960s and early 1970s lineups with 147 home runs in 761 games.^[19] In 2009, May was enshrined in the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame, reflecting his Birmingham roots and overall career totals of 317 home runs and 1,043 RBI.^[20]

Personal Life

Family and Relationships

Lee May was born in Birmingham, Alabama, to parents Tommy May, a semipro baseball player who also manufactured mattresses and springs, and Mildred May, who processed chickens at a poultry house; the couple divorced when May was young, after which he and his brother moved in with their grandmother, who played a key role in encouraging his baseball aspirations.^[3] In January 1962, May married his high school sweetheart, Terrye Perdue, with whom he remained until his death.^[3] Their first child, a daughter named Yelandra, was born later that year.^[3] The couple had additional children, including a son, Lee May Jr., born circa 1966, who pursued a professional baseball career after being selected by the New York Mets in the first round of the 1986 MLB Draft and playing in the minors through 1993.^[5] May maintained close family ties, including with his younger brother Carlos May (born May 17, 1948), a major league outfielder who played ten seasons primarily with the Chicago White Sox.^[3] At the time of Lee's death on July 29, 2017, survivors included his wife Terrye, four children, nine grandchildren, and brother Carlos.^[21]

Later Years

After retiring as a player following the 1982 season with the Kansas City Royals, Lee May transitioned into coaching roles within Major League Baseball.^[4] He served as the Royals' hitting coach, contributing to their 1985 World Series championship team.^[3] May continued in similar capacities with multiple organizations, including stints as hitting coach for the Cincinnati Reds, Baltimore Orioles, and Tampa Bay Devil Rays into the 2000s.^{[6] [18]}

Death and Legacy

Circumstances of Death

Lee May died on July 29, 2017, in Cincinnati, Ohio, at the age of 74.^{[6] [21]} His wife, Terrye May, stated that the cause was pneumonia, with the death occurring at a hospital where he resided in the city.^{[6] [22]} Initial reports from Major League Baseball sources did not specify a cause, but family confirmation via major outlets established pneumonia as the factor leading to his passing after a career marked by health resilience into retirement.^[5] No further details on preceding medical conditions or the exact hospitalization timeline were publicly detailed beyond these accounts.^[23]

Posthumous Recognition and Cultural References

Following May's death on July 29, 2017, the Cincinnati Reds issued a statement mourning the loss of "the Big Bopper," describing him as a member of the club's Hall of Fame and a friend to all associated with the organization.^[24] The Baltimore Orioles, where May played from 1975 to 1980, announced they would honor him with a pre-game ceremony before their July 31 matchup against the Kansas City Royals.^[5] Major media outlets, including The New York Times and ESPN, published obituaries recapping his 18-season career, 354 home runs, and three All-Star selections, emphasizing his contributions to the early Cincinnati Reds lineup known as the Big Red Machine.^[6][23] No additional formal awards or inductions were conferred posthumously beyond these tributes. May's legacy appears primarily within baseball historiography rather than broader cultural narratives, with references limited to analytical works like the Society for American Baseball Research biography, which details his 100-RBI seasons across three teams as a hallmark of consistency among 1970s sluggers.^[3] He has not been depicted in films, television series, or popular literature outside sports-specific contexts, though his trade to Houston for Joe Morgan is occasionally cited in discussions of pivotal 1970s franchise shifts.^[6]