Carlos May
Encyclopedia
Carlos May is a former left fielder
in Major League Baseball
who played for the Chicago White Sox
through most of his career, and also the New York Yankees
and California Angels
. He also played four seasons in Japan, from until , for the Nankai Hawks
. He batted left-handed and threw right-handed. He is currently a community relations representative for the White Sox. Carlos May is the younger brother of former first baseman Lee May
.
, but lost to Lou Piniella
for baseball's rookie of the year award. In 1970, as the White Sox' full-time left fielder, he had a good breakout season, batting
.285 with 12 home run
s and 68 RBIs
. However, the White Sox had a miserable year, finishing 50 games under .500 and in last place in the American League
, 42 games out of first place. In he batted .294 with 70 RBIs while playing regularly at first base
for the only time in his career. He would move back to the outfield after an offseason trade that brought the White Sox superstar Dick Allen
.
Throughout the early 1970s, May continued to help the White Sox improve as a solid everyday starter for them. In , he hit .308 and had 28 stolen base
s, which would both end up his career-highs in the respective categories. That year, Chicago finished in 2nd place in the AL, behind only the Oakland Athletics
. In he collected 20 home runs and 96 RBIs, which would end up his career highs in those categories.
May did get a crack at postseason play, but not with the White Sox. On May 18, , he was traded to the Yankees for pitcher
Ken Brett
and fellow outfielder Rich Coggins
. The deal was made while the Yankees were in a heated pennant race. That year, he hit .278 and the Yankees went to the World Series
. During the ALCS
, May went 2-for-10 with a double
and a walk. In the World Series against the Cincinnati Reds
, he did not get a hit in 9 at bat
s and ended up with a .105 batting average in the postseason.
He was an All-Star
in 1969 and 1972 and made the top 10 in batting average and stolen bases twice.
In a 10-year career, hit hit .274 with 90 home runs and 536 RBIs in 1165 games. He had 85 career stolen bases and 545 runs scored
. In 4120 at bats, he had 1127 career hits
.
After wearing number 29 as a rookie with the White Sox, May switched to the number 17 (his birthday) and wore it for the remainder of his White Sox career. He is the only player in MLB to wear his birthday on the back of his jersey, May 17.
Left fielder
In baseball, a left fielder is an outfielder who plays defense in left field. Left field is the area of the outfield to the left of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
who played for the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
through most of his career, and also the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
and California Angels
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
. He also played four seasons in Japan, from until , for the Nankai Hawks
Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
The are a Japanese baseball team based in Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture. The team was bought on January 28, 2005 by the SoftBank Corporation.The team was formerly known as the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks. In 1988, Daiei bought the team from Osaka's Nankai Electric Railway Co., and its headquarters were...
. He batted left-handed and threw right-handed. He is currently a community relations representative for the White Sox. Carlos May is the younger brother of former first baseman Lee May
Lee May
Lee Andrew May is a former first baseman in Major League Baseball. From through , May played for the Cincinnati Reds , Houston Astros , Baltimore Orioles and Kansas City Royals . He batted and threw right-handed. He is the brother of former Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees outfielder...
.
Major league career
He began his major league career on September 6, , but did not have his first full year until . In , he suffered an injury while in the Marine Reserves, blowing off his thumb. He won The Sporting News Rookie of the Year AwardThe Sporting News Rookie of the Year Award
The Sporting News Rookie of the Year Award was established in 1946 by The Sporting News .*In 1947-48, and again in 1950, a single award was given for all of Major League Baseball....
, but lost to Lou Piniella
Lou Piniella
Louis Victor Piniella is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and manager. He has been nicknamed "Sweet Lou," both for his swing as a major league hitter and, facetiously, to describe his demeanor as a player and manager...
for baseball's rookie of the year award. In 1970, as the White Sox' full-time left fielder, he had a good breakout season, batting
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.285 with 12 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s and 68 RBIs
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
. However, the White Sox had a miserable year, finishing 50 games under .500 and in last place in the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
, 42 games out of first place. In he batted .294 with 70 RBIs while playing regularly at first base
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
for the only time in his career. He would move back to the outfield after an offseason trade that brought the White Sox superstar Dick Allen
Dick Allen
Richard Anthony Allen is a former Major League Baseball player and R&B singer. He played first and third base and outfield in Major League Baseball and ranked among his sport's top offensive producers of the 1960s and early 1970s...
.
Throughout the early 1970s, May continued to help the White Sox improve as a solid everyday starter for them. In , he hit .308 and had 28 stolen base
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
s, which would both end up his career-highs in the respective categories. That year, Chicago finished in 2nd place in the AL, behind only the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
. In he collected 20 home runs and 96 RBIs, which would end up his career highs in those categories.
May did get a crack at postseason play, but not with the White Sox. On May 18, , he was traded to the Yankees for pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
Ken Brett
Ken Brett
Kenneth Alven Brett was a Major League Baseball pitcher and the second of four Brett brothers who played professional baseball, the most notable being the youngest, George Brett.Ken played for 10 teams in his 14-year MLB career.Born in Brooklyn, Ken Brett grew up in southern California and was an...
and fellow outfielder Rich Coggins
Rich Coggins
Richard Allen Coggins was an outfielder for the Baltimore Orioles , Montreal Expos , New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox ....
. The deal was made while the Yankees were in a heated pennant race. That year, he hit .278 and the Yankees went to the World Series
1976 World Series
The 1976 World Series matched the defending champion Cincinnati Reds of the National League against the New York Yankees of the American League, with the Reds sweeping the Series to repeat. The Reds became the only team to sweep an entire multi-tier postseason. The Reds are also the last National...
. During the ALCS
1976 American League Championship Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 9, 1976 at Royals Stadium in Kansas City, MissouriThe opener was played on a bright Saturday afternoon at Royals Stadium and pitted Yankee ace Jim “Catfish” Hunter against left-hander and ex-Yankee Larry Gura. The Yankees got off to a quick start scoring two in the first...
, May went 2-for-10 with a double
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
and a walk. In the World Series against the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
, he did not get a hit in 9 at bat
At bat
In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
s and ended up with a .105 batting average in the postseason.
He was an All-Star
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
in 1969 and 1972 and made the top 10 in batting average and stolen bases twice.
In a 10-year career, hit hit .274 with 90 home runs and 536 RBIs in 1165 games. He had 85 career stolen bases and 545 runs scored
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
. In 4120 at bats, he had 1127 career hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
.
After wearing number 29 as a rookie with the White Sox, May switched to the number 17 (his birthday) and wore it for the remainder of his White Sox career. He is the only player in MLB to wear his birthday on the back of his jersey, May 17.