Dave May
| Dave May | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 | |||
| Outfielder | |||
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Born: December 23, 1943 New Castle, Delaware | |||
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Died: October 20, 2012 (aged 68) Bear, Delaware | |||
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| MLB debut | |||
| July 28, 1967, for the Baltimore Orioles | |||
| Last MLB appearance | |||
| October 1, 1978, for the Pittsburgh Pirates | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .251 | ||
| Home Runs | 96 | ||
| Runs batted in | 422 | ||
| Teams | |||
| Career highlights and awards | |||
David LaFrance May (December 23, 1943 – October 20, 2012) was an American outfielder who spent twelve seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) with the Baltimore Orioles (1967–1970), Milwaukee Brewers (1970–1974, 1978), Atlanta Braves (1975–1976), Texas Rangers (1977) and Pittsburgh Pirates (1978). He was an American League (AL) All-Star with the Brewers in 1973. He was a member of an AL pennant winner with the Orioles in 1969. He was the father of David May Jr (Major League Scout) and Derrick May MLB Player.[1]
Biography
A native of New Castle, Delaware, he graduated from William Penn High School in his hometown.[2] He signed with the San Francisco Giants as an amateur free agent in 1961.[1] The only year he spent in the Giants organization was in 1962 with the Salem Rebels where he led the team with a .379 batting average.[3] He appeared in his first Major League game with the Baltimore Orioles. During the time he was with Baltimore (1967–1970), he never had higher than a .242 batting average and 152 at bats. He was then traded to the Milwaukee Brewers for Dick Baney and Buzz Stephen. However, upon coming to the Brewers, he became an effective hitter. In his first full season in Milwaukee, 1971, May hit 16 home runs and had 65 RBI. After an off year in 1972, he rebounded to finish eighth in MVP voting in 1973 with a .303 batting average, 25 home runs, and 93 RBI. He also led the league in total bases, and placed in second in hits. May is one of two Delawareans to make the All-Star Game. However, the production stopped in 1974, so the Brewers traded him to the Atlanta Braves for Hank Aaron. Once again, in 1975 and 1976, May was traded to the Texas Rangers. May was traded back to Milwaukee at trade deadline in 1978 to help the team on a pennant push. As the Brewers faded he was traded just before the August waiver wire deadline to the Pittsburgh Pirates. He then went to Spring Training with the Philadelphia Phillies and was their final cut before the 1978 Season. He signed and played for Santo Domino in the fledgling Inter-American League until it went defunct during the 1979 season. May then became a Minor League Coach serving as a roving hitting intstructor for the Atlanta Braves in 1981 and 1982
May was inducted into the Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame in 1984.[4]
May, who died at age 68 in Bear, Delaware on October 20, 2012.[2]
References
- 1 2 Siomon, Andrew (October 22, 2012). "All-Star May, once traded for Aaron, dies at 68". MLB.com.
- 1 2 Tresolini, Kevin. (October 22, 2012). "Ex-Major Leaguer Dave May dies at 68". The News Journal. Wilmington, DE.
- ↑ 1962 Salem Rebels – Baseball-Reference.com.
- ↑ 1976–2002 Inductees – Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors), or SABR Biography Project