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Copyright © 2002
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Rudy May
Born: 1944

LHP 1965, 69-83 Angels, Yankees, Orioles, Expos

Rudy May's Teammates

IPW-LERA
Career 2622152-1563.46
League DS 20-00.00
League CS 11.10-14.76
World Series 6.10-02.84

Books and articles about Rudy May

May spent the most time with the Angels, but it was with contending Yankees and Orioles clubs that his contributions gained the most attention. He had only one winning season with the Angels, 1972, when he was 12-11 with a 2.94 ERA. However, he showed good skills, and the Yankees, looking to start contending again under new owner George Steinbrenner, purchased May in June 1974.

May went 8-4 for second-place New York and finished the year with a 3.19 ERA, then went 14-12 in 1975. In June 1976 he was part of a blockbuster 10-player deal that sent him with Tippy Martinez, Scott McGregor, and Rick Dempsey to the Orioles. He went 11-7 the rest of the way and 18-14 in 1977, and was traded with Bryn Smith in the six-player deal that brought Don Stanhouse from the Expos. A slump to 8-10 in 1978 led to a switch to relief in 1979; he went 10-3 with a 2.30 ERA in both roles that year.

May returned to the Yankees as a free agent after that season and had his best year in 1980. Used as a starter and a reliever, he led the league with a 2.47 ERA and went 15-5, second in winning percentage behind Cy Young Award winner Steve Stone. He took a complete-game, 3-2 loss in Game Two of the LCS against the Royals. May was less effective thereafter. (WOR)


Contribute your recollections of Rudy May by clicking here.
FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY
» December 3, 1964: In what is fine move by the Angels, California unloads P Bo Belinsky to the Phillies for minor-league pitcher Rudy May and 1B Costen Shockley.

» April 18, 1965: California Angels rookie Rudy May has a no-hitter ruined in the 8th inning of his ML debut by Jake Wood's double. The Angels lift him after nine innings of one-hit ball, and Detroit wins in 13 innings.

» April 25, 1965: At Yankee Stadium, Mel Stottlemyre and California's Rudy May lock up in a pitching duel until Mickey Mantle scores the only run of the game with a 4th inning solo shot into the left field bleachers.

» September 12, 1965: Washington's Brant Alyea debuts with a pinch-hit home run on the first pitch from Rudy May in his first ML at bat. Yes, a major-league first. In Washington, 840 fans watch the Senators beat the Angels 7–1.

» June 15, 1974: The Angels sell Rudy May (0–1) to the Yankees where he will post an 8–4 record this year.

» June 15, 1976: In what stands as one of the O's best trades ever, Baltimore obtains pitchers Rudy May, Tippy Martinez, Dave Pagan, Scott McGregor and C Rick Dempsey from the Yankees for veteran pitchers Doyle Alexander, Ken Holtzman, Grant Jackson and C Elrod Hendricks. The veterans will help the Yankees win in 1976 and then fade.

» June 28, 1976: Boston's Butch Hobson debuts at Fenway Park with a double off the CF wall and a rare inside-the-park homer, both off the O's Rudy May. Boston wins, 12–8.

» September 18, 1976: In the first of two, the Indians top the 2nd-place Orioles 5–1. In the nitecap, Cleveland manager Frank Robinson makes his final ML appearance as a player when he pinch-hits in the 8th and singles against the Orioles Rudy May. The O's holds on to win, 3–2.

» December 7, 1977: In a swap that helps Baltimore, the Orioles trade pitchers Rudy May, Randy Miller, and Bryn Smith to the Expos for pitchers Don Stanhouse, Joe Kerrigan, and OF Gary Roenicke.

» November 8, 1979: The Yankees ink 1B-DH Bob Watson and P Rudy May, the first reentry free agents to sign long-term contracts with new teams.