Rudy May
Rudy May | ||
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Strikeouts | 1,760 | |
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Rudolph May, Jr. (born July 18, 1944) is an American former professional baseball player.[1] He played in Major League Baseball as a left-handed pitcher in 1965 and from 1969 to 1983 for the California Angels, New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles and Montreal Expos. Early in his career, May had a live fastball, but was known best for his "sharp-breaking curve."[2] May was the 1980 American League ERA leader.[3]
Early years
May played high school baseball at
In 1963 May was selected first in the 1963 first-year player draft by the
After the 1964 season, May was traded by the White Sox to the Philadelphia Phillies for catcher Bill Heath and a player to be named later (Joel Gibson). The Phillies then traded May to the California Angels for pitcher Bo Belinsky.[6]
Major League Baseball career
May made his Major League debut in 1965 at the age of 20, starting for the Angels against the Detroit Tigers. He pitched 9 innings, gave up one run and one hit, struck out 10 batters, walked 5, threw 139 pitches, and received a no-decision. May appeared in 30 games for the Angels in 1965. May pitched in the Angels minor league system from 1966 to 1968, including a stint with the Seattle Angels. He appeared in 45 games over three seasons. He won 18 games and lost 10, in 248 innings.
May returned to the Major Leagues for good in 1969 with the Angels and appeared in 200 games between 1969 and the beginning of the 1974 season as a starter and reliever. Over 1,013 innings, May posted a record of 47 wins and 67 losses with California.[7]
May's contract was purchased by the New York Yankees from the Angels on June 15, 1974.[8] He posted 22 wins and 16 losses in 326 innings over 49 appearances with the Yankees.
Two years to the day after he was acquired by New York, May was acquired along with
May was traded along with Randy Miller and Bryn Smith from the Orioles to the Montreal Expos for Don Stanhouse, Joe Kerrigan and Gary Roenicke at the Winter Meetings on December 7, 1977.[11] May pitched primarily out of the bullpen for Montreal and recorded 18 wins and 13 losses, appearing in 49 games and recording 237 innings.
May re-signed with the New York Yankees on November 8, 1979. During the 1980 season with New York, May led the American League with an ERA of 2.46, which was his best career mark. Through his final four seasons in Major League Baseball, May won 28 games and lost 27.
In 1965 with the Angels, May earned a salary of $6,000. In 1983, his final year with the Yankees, his salary was $620,000.[12]
Personal life
When May was 17 he enrolled in an underwater diving program. After completion of the course, May was a certified diver.[13]
See also
References
- ^ "Rudy May Stats | Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2017-11-07.
- ISBN 9781439103777.
- ^ "Rudy May Stats | Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2017-11-07.
- ^ Baseball Reference (October 5, 2022). "Rudy May". Baseball Reference. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
- ^ "Major Draft Picks". The Sporting News. December 14, 1963. p. 9.
- ^ Mearns, Andrew (September 19, 2013). "Pinstripe Alley Top 100 Yankees: #89 Rudy May". pinstripealley.com. SB Nation. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
- ^ "Rudy May Stats | Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2017-11-07.
- ^ "Rudy May of Angels Bought by Yankees," The New York Times, Sunday, June 16, 1974. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
- ^ Chass, Murray. "Players Swap Memories of Yankees-Orioles 10-Player Trade", The New York Times, Sunday, June 15, 1986. Retrieved December 24, 2022.
- ^ "Rudy May" (Thursday, January 9, 2014) – Jeff Pearlman. Retrieved December 24, 2022.
- ^ Durso, Joseph. "Mets Get Back Foli to Play Shortstop," The New York Times, Thursday, December 8, 1977. Retrieved October 23, 2020
- ^ "Rudy May Stats | Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2017-11-07.
- ^ MacDonald, Ian (May 9, 1978). "Rudy May: Scuba diver at heart". The Gazette. Montreal. p. 26. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet