Books and articles about Milt May

Son of Phillies third baseman Pinky May, Milt was signed as an infielder by the Pirates, who made him a catcher. He was a good handler of pitchers and a lefthanded line-drive hitter who rarely swung at a bad pitch, but also was reputedly the slowest runner in the majors for much of his career. At age 21, he drove in Pittsburgh's winning run in Game Four of the 1971 World Series. The Astros gave up Jerry Reuss for May after the 1973 season, making him their everyday catcher. On May 4, 1975, he drove in Bob Watson for ML baseball's one millionth run. Traded to Detroit, he played six games in 1976 before a broken ankle sidelined him for the season. With the 1981 Giants, he batted .310 - the highest mark ever for a San Francisco catcher. He was re-acquired by the Pirates late in 1983, and was made a coach for 1987. (AJA)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » October 13, 1971: Pittsburgh comes back from a 3–0 deficit to beat Baltimore 4–3, as Milt May drives in the winning run in the 8th with a pinch-hit single. It is the first World Series game to be played entirely under the lights. » July 7, 1972: In the Pirates 10–2 lid lifter win over Atlanta, Milt May goes 5-for-5 to lead a 20-hit attack. May has two more hits in the nitecap, but the Pirates lose, 3–2, to Jim Hardin. » October 31, 1973: The Astros trade P Jerry Reuss to the Pirates for C Milt May. Reuss will finally put it all together in Pittsburgh and win 58 games in four seasons. » May 4, 1975: The Giants beat the Astros 8–6 in the first game of a doubleheader at Candlestick. In the 2nd inning, Houston's Bob Watson scores what is calculated as ML baseball's one-millionth run of all time (the Philadelphia Nationals Wes Fisler scored the first run on April 22, 1876) as Milt May hits John Montefusco's first pitch to drive him home. The Reds Dave Concepcion homers about the same moment and races around the bases, but Watson, on 2B, scores first. The Reds lose to Atlanta, 3–2. » April 20, 1976: Detroit C Milt May, acquired in December 1975, breaks his ankle when he crashes into the wall behind home plate chasing a foul. He is out of action for the 1976 season. » April 7, 1978: Mark Fidrych scatters five hits in beating Toronto, 6–2. The Tigers get homers from Milt May, Phil Mankowski, and Jason Thompson. The Bird, trying to recover from tendinitis that limited him to 11 starts in 1977, will win only three more ML games. » December 12, 1979: The Giants sign reentry free agents 2B Rennie Stennett, C Milt May, and OF Jim Wohlford to contracts worth a total of $4.825 million. » June 13, 1980: Vida Blue pitches the Giants to a 3–1 win over the Mets, and Milt May hits franchise homer #9,000 for the Giants. Monte Ward hit homer #1 in 1883, and #8,000 was hit by Bobby Bonds on September 4, 1971. » July 2, 1999: Umpire Tom Hallion is suspended for three games for his actions during an argument with Colorado catcher Jeff Reed and pitching coach Milt May on June 26th. The dispute began when Rockies pitcher Mike DeJean, while walking to his dugout complained to third base umpire Terry Tata about a check-swing call, and home plate ump Hallion, told DeJean to get in the dugout. Officials couldn't recall another suspension of an umpire for an on-field dispute. In 1990, National League president Bill White was prepared to suspend umpire Joe West for slamming Philadelphia pitcher Dennis Cook to the field, but commissioner Fay Vincent intervened and no discipline was imposed.