Posted on 07/30/2017 1:09:16 PM PDT by EveningStar
One of the most feared hitters of his generation, Lee May is one of only 11 major leaguers to have 100-RBI seasons for three different teams. He also had 11 consecutive seasons (1968-1978) of at least 20 home runs and 80 RBIs. In an 18-year major-league career, the “Big Bopper of Birmingham” played for the Cincinnati Reds, Houston Astros, Baltimore Orioles, and Kansas City Royals. A three-time All-Star (1969, 1971, and 1972), he appeared in the postseason three times, including the 1970 World Series for the Reds and the 1979 Series for the Orioles. (The third was a Division Series in 1981 when he was with the Royals.)
May was a solid first baseman defensively (.994 career fielding percentage), but also struck out often (100 or more in ten seasons). What he was really known for, however, was his power. He slammed 354 home runs and drove in 1,244 runs the major leagues. He freely admitted, “I deliberately try to hit a home run every time up. That is what they pay me for.”1 Still, despite his power numbers, he lacks some recognition and, as sportswriter Jim Murray once wrote, “played in the undeserved obscurity of a bullpen catcher.”2
Lee Andrew May was born on March 23, 1943, in Birmingham, Alabama...
Lee May died on July 29, 2017.
(Excerpt) Read more at sabr.org ...
RIP Mr May...
Saw him play with the Reds at Crosley Field. RIP.
Yeah, Bench and May hit back-to-back home runs in the final game at Crosley to pull out a come-from-behind win. He had a very short swing, but the ball went a long way...
RIP
I remember him from my younger days when I followed baseball more closely. Starting to feel my age more when guys like this pass away.
Like Willie Stargell, Lee May would have 700 home runs if he played today. With small strike zones, lower mounds, no blow back pitches, winter balls and smaller parks its far easier to hit a home run today. And if they played in the 90’s with steroids, and very tight strike zones they would have had a thousand home runs. Playing in Detroit Cleveland, Houston or St. Louis was almost impossible to hit home runs in the 70’s. Now every park is a hitters park.
But Willie, Hank and Ernie put up some pretty good numbers in the 50s and 60s.
Want to feel old? His GRANDson is playing today.
RIP. Too young. Nice guy.
His younger brother, Carlos, had a real chance to make a name for himself until he blew his thumb off with a mortar shell.
Carlos came back and still had a good career despite his injury.
Remembered for his days as a Royal.
RIP Lee May.
Did they trade him for Joe Morgan? Or was it Tommy Helms? Tont Perez moved from 3rd base.
Sad to hear this. I remember him. Good player.
He was part of a couple of significant trades.
https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mayle01.shtml
June 1, 1961: Signed by the Cincinnati Reds as an amateur free agent.
November 29, 1971: Traded by the Cincinnati Reds with Tommy Helms and Jimmy Stewart to the Houston Astros for Ed Armbrister, Jack Billingham, Cesar Geronimo, Denis Menke and Joe Morgan.
December 3, 1974: Traded by the Houston Astros with Jay Schlueter to the Baltimore Orioles for Rob Andrews and Enos Cabell.
October 23, 1980: Granted Free Agency.
December 9, 1980: Signed as a Free Agent with the Kansas City Royals.
November 18, 1982: Released by the Kansas City Royals.
I had family in Cincinnati who did NOT like that trade at teh time. The Big Red Machine got them over that fast.
“I deliberately try to hit a home run every time up.”
Hitters should not do that.
He sounds like Joey Gallo.
Towards the end of his time with the Orioles, the late great Hall of Fame manager Earl Weaver began letting him bat *first* to give him more at bats to help him reach 20 HRs in a season one last consecutive time.
I remember seeing him on TV and he had this unique way of wiggling the head of the bat as he waited for the pitch, like a dog wagging its tail, as though he could hardly *wait* to swing...
I used to get his card all the time. I probably had six Lee May cards in 1960.
So true. Thank you.
In his case, good was a consolation. He had the makings of greatness when he was playing for the White Sox - that is when the accident occurred.
RIP.
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