Last night, I noted the 2024 World Series between the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers has had a pall cast upon it with the passing of Dodgers pitching legend Fernando Valenzuela who pitched in the 1981 World Series - the last time these two teams met in the Fall Classic until tomorrow night.
Only hours after Fernando's death came word of the passing of another pitcher who took part in the 1981 World Series. Rudy May, who had two stints for the New York Yankees in the 1970's and 1980's, passed away yesterday following a prolonged battle with diabetes. May was 80.
May bounced around between the Minnesota Twins, Chicago White Sox and Philadelphia Phillies before making his big-league debut with the California Angels in 1965. May tossed 9 innings of one hit ball while striking out 10 Detroit Tigers. Unfortunately, he would not get the win as the Tigers prevailed in 13 innings.
Arm troubles as well as back troubles (which would persist for the rest of his career) would put May back into the minor leagues for three seasons before returning to the big league club in 1969 and would become a member of the team's starting rotation for the next five seasons. After struggling towards the latter part of the 1973 season, May was phased out of the starting rotation by fireballer Frank Tanana.
By mid-June, the New York Yankees had purchased his contract where he pitching fortunes would improve. That is until the Yankees hired Billy Martin in the middle of the 1975 season. May and Martin were like and oil and water and by the middle of the 1976 season, May was sent to the Baltimore Orioles in a 10-player deal. Among those going to the Orioles with May were future stars Rick Dempsey, Scott MacGregor and Tippy Martinez with Doyle Alexander, Elrod Hendricks, Ken Holtzman and Grant Jackson bound for the Bronx.
In 1977, May won a career high 18 games and pitched a career high 251.2 innings. However, the Orioles would trade the spectacled southpaw to the Montreal Expos in a six-player deal which included a future Expos starter Bryn Smith. Going to Baltimore were outfielder Gary Roenicke, relief pitcher Don Stanhouse and pitcher and future pitching coach/big league manager Joe Kerrigan.
May would begin his tenure in Montreal as a starter but was eventually moved to the bullpen where he thrived. In 1979, as the Expos were in their first meaningful pennant race, May went 10-3 with a 2.31 ERA in 33 appearances (26 in relief and 7 starts).
Prior to the 1980 season, May would return to the Yankees signing a 3-year, $1 million contract. May would play a similar role as he did with the Expos the year before and pitched even better. In 41 appearances (included 17 starts), May went 15-5 while leading the AL with a 2.46 ERA reaching the post-season for the first time in his career. Unfortunately, the Yankees were swept by the Kansas City Royals in the ALCS although he would pitch 8 strong innings in a losing effort in Game 2.
May was primarily a starter in 1981, but he would take a step back going 6-11 with a 4.14 ERA in 27 appearances including 22 starts. However, May would make three appearances in the 1981 World Series against the Dodgers pitching 6.1 innings giving up only 2 runs. However, the Dodgers would prevail in six games.
May's days with the Yankees and his big-league career would come to an end after struggling following the return of Billy Martin to the dugout with no love lost between the two. In 535 career appearances (with 360 starts), May went 152-156 with a 3.46 ERA striking out 1760 batters in 2622 innings pitched.
After his baseball career, May went into business with Circle K before joining British Petroleum.
The Dodgers will honor Fernando Valenzuela with a number 34 patch during the World Series. I hope the Yankees will do their part and honor Rudy May. R.I.P.
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