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Monday, October 22, 2012

Ex-Major Leaguer Dave May dies at 68

New Castle native and William Penn High graduate Dave May, who played 12 seasons of Major League Baseball, died Saturday.

May, who was living in Bear, was 68 and had diabetes and cancer.

Funeral arrangements have not been finalized, son Derrick said.

“The last week he got so many phone calls,” said Derrick, who played 10 major league seasons and is now the St. Louis Cardinals minor league hitting coordinator.

“I never realized how many people he’s impacted, not only around here but people in baseball. Dusty Baker called and Cito Gaston, Willie Horton, Ralph Garr and all these people called just to help him out. He and Johnny Briggs were best friends for 40 years.”

The Delaware Sports Hall of Famer broke in with the Baltimore Orioles as a 23-year-old in 1967. An outfielder, May spent four seasons with the Orioles, before moving to the Milwaukee Brewers, where he was an American League all-star in 1973. That season, May batted .303 with 25 homers and 93 RBIs.

Repoz Posted: October 22, 2012 at 04:00 PM | 14 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: obit

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1. Hang down your head, Tom Foley Posted: October 22, 2012 at 04:56 PM (#4279248)

He was traded for Hank Aaron and then traded for Jeff Burroughs, another former MVP. Not straight up though.

2. Dock Ellis on Acid

Posted: October 22, 2012 at 05:00 PM (#4279252)

Oh no. As a fellow Delaware native, this is sad news to me. Especially since his son was a source of pride in my hometown growing up.

3. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: October 22, 2012 at 05:28 PM (#4279278)

Okay, for some reason I thought Lee May was Derrick's father. I also didn't know Dave May was an All-Star. So I learned a few things today.

4. Steve Treder Posted: October 22, 2012 at 05:31 PM (#4279282)

He was about as crazily inconsistent as anybody has ever been. But when this short, muscular guy was "on," he could really hit.

5. Bruce Markusen Posted: October 22, 2012 at 05:53 PM (#4279300)

As Steve points out, he was stocky and short, just like his name, and built like a fireplug. He had a terrific season in 1973, when he led the AL in total bases and made his only All-Star team. And then a year later, he was off to Atlanta for Hank Aaron.

We always called him Davey May, not Dave May, and that just seemed like a better sounding name.

I always confused him as Carlos May's brother, but Carlos and Lee were the brothers, and Dave was off my himself, at least until his son Derrick made the major leagues.

6. BDC

Posted: October 22, 2012 at 08:52 PM (#4279545)

I really dislike this trend of players who were active when I was young dying on us, but I reckon I have to get used to it. RIP to one of the players who made my youth a happier place.

7. gef the talking mongoose Posted: October 22, 2012 at 10:08 PM (#4279849)

Yeah, Bruce -- Davey, always.

A favorite player of mine as a kid. Sad news.

8. Crispix Attacks 2: Swag Airlines Posted: October 22, 2012 at 10:46 PM (#4279982)

I always confused him as Carlos May's brother, but Carlos and Lee were the brothers, and Dave was off my himself, at least until his son Derrick made the major leagues.

No, no, Carlos May is Carlos Lee's father, and Lee May is Derrek Lee's father.

9. Crispix Attacks 2: Swag Airlines Posted: October 22, 2012 at 10:50 PM (#4279996)

Of the 13 players named "May" in MLB history, 6 were active in the period 1970 to 1973.

10. Pasta-diving Jeter (jmac66) Posted: October 22, 2012 at 10:54 PM (#4280012)

Of the 13 players named "May" in MLB history, 6 were active in the period 1970 to 1973.

making it more complicated, Lee May and Lee Maye were coeveal for several years

11. Crispix Attacks 2: Swag Airlines Posted: October 22, 2012 at 11:03 PM (#4280050)

Also John Mayberry. And Willie Mays. And Mayo Smith. May 1970 was the most May-filled May we'll ever see.

12. SoSHially Unacceptable Posted: October 22, 2012 at 11:32 PM (#4280160)

Also John Mayberry. And Willie Mays. And Mayo Smith. May 1970 was the most May-filled May we'll ever see.

Maybe. Maybe not.

RIP Davey.

13. The District Attorney Posted: October 22, 2012 at 11:35 PM (#4280196)

Carlos May is Carlos Lee's father

Hey, I just met you
I see you're weighty
Who's your father?
"Carlos May be."

14. Steve N Posted: October 23, 2012 at 12:24 PM (#4280586)

It turns out that May didn't live too far from me. Too bad I never met him. A solid ball player. For some reason I didn't realize that he was from Delaware while he was playing.

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Monday, October 22, 2012

Ex-Major Leaguer Dave May dies at 68

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