Lee May obit

Former MLB All-Star, 18-Year Veteran Lee May Dies at Age 74

He was not on the list.

The Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association announced Sunday that three-time All-Star

Lee May died at the age of 74.

May spent time with the Cincinnati Reds, Houston Astros, Baltimore Orioles and Kansas City Royals during his 18-year career, hitting 354 home runs from 1965-82.

A couple of former major leaguers had some nice words to say about the Big Bopper:

Ken Singleton ✔ @29alltime

So sorry to hear of the passing of former teammate Lee May. A superb sense of dry humor was Lee's trademark. A feared slugger. #RIPBIGBOPPER

12:14 PM - Jul 30, 2017

 44 44 Replies   83 83 Retweets   486 486 likes

Mark Gubicza ✔ @Markgubicza

RIP Lee May. Great player, great friend and great person. #Reds #Orioles #Astros #Royals #MLB

12:23 PM - Jul 30, 2017 · Toronto, Ontario

May was one of the most consistent home run hitters of his era, hitting at least 20 home runs in 11 straight seasons. His best years came with the Reds from 1969-71 when he crushed 111 home runs and drove in 302 runs during that stretch.

 

May began his professional career in 1961 with the Tampa Tarpons in the Florida State League.

He went to the World Series twice, once with Cincinnati and once with Baltimore, but never earned a ring.

Per Mike Klingaman of the Baltimore Sun, May died Saturday of heart disease.

Some of his notable teammates and managers were: Dick Sisler, Frank Robinson, Pete Rose, Vada Pinson, Tony Pérez, Sammy Ellis, Jim Maloney, Deron Johnson, Milt Pappas, Don Heffner, Dave Bristol, Leo Cárdenas, Billy McCool, Gary Nolan, Ted Abernathy, Johnny Bench, Bobby Tolan, Jim Merritt, Wayne Granger, Hal McRae, Dave Concepción, Sparky Anderson, Harry Walker, Salty Parker, Leo Durocher, Jimmy Wynn, Larry Dierker, César Cedeño, Doug Rader, Jerry Reuss, Dave Roberts,
Jesús Alou, Preston Gómez, Jim Palmer, Earl Weaver, Mike Flanagan, Brooks Robinson, Doug DeCinces, Don Baylor, Dave Duncan, Mike Cuellar, Reggie Jackson, Dennis Martínez, Ross Grimsley, Rick Dempsey, Eddie Murray, Rudy May, Don Stanhouse, Ken Singleton, Gary Roenicke, Steve Stone,
Mike Boddicker, Tim Stoddard, Tippy Martinez, Jim Frey, George Brett, Dan Quisenberry, Willie Wilson, Frank White, Dick Howser, Jamie Quirk, Atlee Hammaker, César Gerónimo, Bud Black, Vida Blue, Dennis Leonard, Rance Mulliniks, Willie Aikens, Jerry Martin and Larry Gura.

As a coach he helped younger hitters such as Chris Sabo, Bo Diaz, Barry Larkin, Eric Davis, Mariano Duncan and Paul O'Neill. 

In his 18-season career, May posted a .267 batting average, with 354 home runs, 1244 runs batted in, and 2031 hits in 2071 games. Defensively, he recorded a .994 fielding percentage. May was prone to strike out; 10 times he fanned more than 100 times in a season and compiled 1,570 in his career. However, he is one of 11 major leaguers to reach the 100-RBI plateau playing for three teams, the others being Dick Allen, Joe Carter, Orlando Cepeda, Rocky Colavito, Goose Goslin, Rogers Hornsby, Reggie Jackson, Al Simmons, Vic Wertz, and Alex Rodriguez.