Rudy May, ex-Yankees hurler and ERA champ, dead at 80

Former Yankees pitcher Rudy May died astatine nan property of 80 connected Saturday. 

May played 16 years successful Major League Baseball, including 7 pinch nan Yankees complete respective stints successful nan 70s and 80s. He besides suited up for nan California Angels, Montreal Expos and Baltimore Orioles. 

A origin of decease was not given, though nan southpaw reportedly dealt pinch diabetes.

During nan people of his career, May went 152-156 pinch a 3.46 ERA and 1,760 strikeouts and was a personnel of Yankees squads that mislaid successful nan American League Championship Series successful 1980 and nan World Series successful 1981. 

May began his first stint pinch nan Bronx Bombers connected June 15, 1974, erstwhile he was purchased from nan Angels and remained a personnel of nan nine until he was traded to nan Orioles 2 years to nan time that he was acquired connected June 15, 1976. 

The lefty yet returned to nan Yankees successful nan wintertime of 1979 erstwhile he signed pinch them arsenic a free agent. 

In an interview pinch nan New York Times conscionable days earlier he inked a statement pinch nan Yankees, May expressed plentifulness of excitement complete nan imaginable of returning to nan Bronx. 

“It sounds atrocious bully to me,” he said. “I ever did for illustration playing successful New York and I liked playing for nan Yankees. It was unfortunate that I was traded to Baltimore. I cognize nan Yankees are going to person a bully shot nine adjacent year. George Steinbrenner seems to beryllium making judge of that.”

May ended up being portion of 2 Yankee teams that made heavy runs successful nan postseason, moreover starring nan American League successful ERA during nan 1980 regular play by posting a career-best 2.46 mark.

He went 54-46 crossed 7 seasons pinch nan Yankees pinch a 3.12 ERA.

May discovered he was incapable to transportation anymore during outpouring training successful 1984 and retired, concisely serving arsenic pitching coach astatine Yosemite High School successful California earlier quitting aft 1 play and yet taking a occupation arsenic a head astatine Circle K, the Fresno Bee reported successful 1990. 

He worked his measurement up to a trading consultancy position astatine Circle K and past pinch British Petroleum.

“My wife, my grandchildren, sportfishing and activity successful nan yard: that’s my life now and what really enhances me,” May told Jeff Pearlman successful a 2014 interview. “At this point, I return much pridefulness successful my sportfishing accomplishments than thing I did successful baseball.”