Lee May

Not to be confused with baseball player and R&B singer Lee Maye.

Lee May
First baseman
Born: March 23, 1943 (1943-03-23) Birmingham, Alabama
Batted: Right	Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 1, 1965 for the Cincinnati Reds
Last MLB appearance
September 24, 1982 for the Kansas City Royals
Career statistics
Batting average	.267
Home runs	354
Runs batted in	1,244
Teams
Cincinnati Reds (1965–1971) Houston Astros (1972–1974) Baltimore Orioles (1975–1980) Kansas City Royals (1981–1982)
Career highlights and awards
3× All-Star selection (1969, 1971, 1972) World Series champion (1985)

Lee Andrew May (born March 23, 1943 in Birmingham, Alabama) is a former first baseman in Major League Baseball. From 1965 through 1982, May played for the Cincinnati Reds (1965–71), Houston Astros (1972–74), Baltimore Orioles (1975–80) and Kansas City Royals (1981–82). He batted and threw right-handed. He is the brother of former Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees outfielder Carlos May. His son, Lee May, Jr. is currently the hitting coach for the Columbus (Ohio) Clippers (Triple-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians).

Career

In an 18-season career, May posted a .267 batting average, with 354 home runs and 1244 runs batted in in 2071 games.

A three-time All-Star, May was one of the most consistent sluggers of his generation. During 11 consecutive seasons, he compiled 20 or more home runs and 80 or more RBI (1968-1978), with career highs of 39 home runs in 1971 and 110 RBI in 1969. In 1973 with the National League's Houston Astros, May had a 21-game hitting streak (May 30 to June 22), setting a club record. He also had a three-home run game in the same season (on June 21). May hit the last home run in the history of Crosley Field. The game-winning shot came in the eighth inning off San Francisco Giants pitcher Juan Marichal in the final game ever played at the ball park, on June 24, 1970. On November 29, 1971, May was involved in a blockbuster trade to the Houston Astros that sent future Hall of Famer Joe Morgan to the Reds. The Astros, badly in need of power after finishing last in the NL him home runs in 1971, sent second baseman Morgan, pitcher Jack Billingham, infielder Dennis Menke, outfielder Cesar Geronimo and minor leaguer Ed Armbrister to Cincinnati for May, second baseman Tommy Helms and utility man Jimmy Stewart.

In his last three seasons with the Baltimore Orioles, May was primarily used as a designated hitter to make room for Eddie Murray at first base. However, in the 1979 World Series, May only batted twice because the use of the DH was not allowed in that series. May was a major contributor that season with 19 homers and 69 RBI.

May was prone to strike out; 10 times he fanned more than 100 times in a season and compiled 1,570 in his career. But May was also a consistent run producer. He is one of 11 major leaguers to reach the 100-RBI plateau playing for three teams, the others being Dick Allen, Joe Carter, Orlando Cepeda, Rocky Colavito, Goose Goslin, Rogers Hornsby, Reggie Jackson, Al Simmons, Vic Wertz, and Alex Rodriguez.

Family

May has three children and nine grandchildren. His son, Lee May Jr., was a New York Mets first-round pick in the 1980s.

See also

• List of major league players with 2,000 hits
• List of top 300 Major League Baseball home run hitters
• List of Major League Baseball players with 1000 RBI
• List of Major League Baseball RBI champions

External links

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference
• BaseballLibrary

Preceded by George Scott	American League RBI Champion 1976	Succeeded by Larry Hisle
Preceded by Rocky Colavito	Kansas City Royals Hitting Coach 1984-1986	Succeeded by Hal McRae
Preceded by Tony Pérez	Cincinnati Reds First Base Coach 1988-1989	Succeeded by Tony Pérez
Preceded by Tony Pérez	Tampa Bay Rays First Base Coach 2001-2002	Succeeded by Billy Hatcher