Rudy May, Former New York Yankees Pitcher and ERA Champion, Dies at 80

Former New York Yankees pitcher Rudy May, a standout in Major League Baseball for 16 seasons, passed away on Saturday at the age of 80. May had a distinguished career, playing for several teams including the California Angels, Montreal Expos, Baltimore Orioles, and the New York Yankees, where he spent two separate stints.

May’s career was marked by significant achievements, including winning the American League ERA title in 1980 with a remarkable 2.46 ERA while pitching for the Yankees. He played a crucial role in the Yankees’ playoff runs, including the 1980 ALCS against the Kansas City Royals and the 1981 World Series, where he faced off against the Los Angeles Dodgers and their legendary pitcher Fernando Valenzuela.

Throughout his career, May compiled a record of 152-156 with a 3.46 ERA across 535 games, 360 of which were starts. He began his MLB journey with the California Angels in 1965 at just 20 years old but faced injuries that kept him out of the big leagues until 1969. May spent seven seasons with the Angels and had similar lengthy stints with the Yankees, along with shorter periods with the Expos and Orioles.

May’s passing comes shortly after the death of another baseball legend, Fernando Valenzuela, who died on Tuesday at the age of 63 due to complications from cancer. The Dodgers, who are set to face the Yankees in this year’s World Series starting Friday, will honor Valenzuela with a uniform patch and a pregame ceremony. It remains to be seen if May will also be honored during the series.

May had been dealing with health issues, including diabetes, for many years, as noted by Montreal Expos historian Danny Gallagher.