Where have you gone, Carlos May? Former All-Star for the White Sox recalls his career in the majors - Interview - Statistical Data Included

Baseball Digest, Sept, 2002 by John Ralph

FORMER WHITE SOX SLUGGER CARLOS MAY IS remembered and revered by die-hard White Sox fans as one of the club's standouts during the feel-good, red-pinstriped era of the early 1970s.

Along with big boppers Bill Melton and Dick Allen, May provided the pop to a White Sox team that gave the mighty Oakland A's a run for their money in 1972.

And though his solid 10-year big league career did not earn him millions of dollars or a place in Cooperstown, May's accomplishments are impressive enough, considering his career nearly ended before it started.

May broke into the major leagues in 1968 as a September call-up to the White Sox. He began the 1969 season as the starting left fielder and for four months, enjoyed one of the finest rookie campaigns in club history, batting .281 with 18 homers and 62 RBI in only 100 games. With those kinds of numbers and two months still remaining in the season, the first-year All-Star seemed well on his way to winning the American League's Rookie of the Year honors.

But then unexpectedly, his season came to a screeching halt.

"August 11, 1969, I'll never forget that day," recalled the 53-year-old May.

Neither will Sox fans.

While on duty as a Marine Reserve at a two-week summer camp at Camp Pendleton in California, the 215-pound slugger had part of his right thumb blown away when a mortar unit misfired. It was May's job to swab out the mortars after they had been fired. The accident put his baseball career in immediate jeopardy. The thumb was on his throwing hand, which was also the bottom hand for his left-handed batting grip.

May was rushed into surgery at the military hospital where a team of doctors operated on the remaining portion of the thumb, which had been rammed into his wrist.

"I sweated out that first week because the doctor said if it got infected they'd have to cut it off," said May. "After that week passed I figured I'd be OK."

At age 21 with his entire career still ahead of him, May refused to give up. His determination to return to the diamond helped him endure several painful skin-graft operations and begin physical therapy. By spring training in 1970, he was back in a Sox uniform. That season, though not his best statistically (.285, 12 HR, 68 RBI) was the highlight of his career.

"When I think back on my career that season stands out," said May, who held the rare distinction of wearing his birthday on the back of his uniform (May 17). "After the accident, I wasn't sure if I'd be able to play again. But I proved I could that year."

Two years later in 1972, May enjoyed his finest season--finishing in the top 10 in the A.L. in on-base percentage (second, .405), batting average (fourth, .308), walks (fourth, 79), hits (fifth, 161), stolen bases (ninth, 23) and total bases (10th, 229). He was selected to the A.L. All-Star team and helped lead the White Sox (87-67) to a surprising run at the first-place A's. May's Pale Hose finished in second place, just five and a half games back.

"By far, that was my best season," said May, a .274 lifetime hitter. "Dick Allen had come over in a trade and he inspired me. He taught me a lot. That was my coming out year I guess."

May went on to play five more seasons in the big leagues. In May of 1976, he was traded to the New York Yankees for pitcher Ken Brett and outfielder Rich Coggins. With the Bronx Bombers, May was on an A.L. pennant winner and appeared in his only World Series.

"For me, the playoffs were a greater thrill than the Series," said May, whose brother Lee enjoyed a fine 18-year career in the major leagues. "We played Kansas City and it went five games with Chris Chambliss winning it for us with a home run. That was an exciting moment. It was pandemonium. He steamrolled a couple of fans on his way to the plate. The World Series was not as thrilling because we were swept in four games by the Big Red Machine."

After splitting the '77 season with the Angels and Yankees, May headed to Japan, where he played four more seasons before retiring from the game and returning to Chicago.

Today, May still calls the Windy City home, residing in suburban Park Forest, and has rekindled his relationship with the White Sox, making public appearances as a representative in the club's community relations department. His second career, however, came with the United States Postal Service, where he has spent the past 18 years as a clerk.

May still follows the White Sox and watches them on TV when he can't get to the ballpark. He also gets a baseball fix by serving as a hitting instructor for the Cook County Cheetahs, an independent professional team on the Chicago's South Side.

And when his busy schedule has an opening, he loves to hit the links.

"I've only been playing for three years, but like a lot of folks, I've got the fever," May said.

Carlos May's Professional Career Batting Statistics

MAJOR LEAGUE CAREER

Year     Team           AB       H    2B   3B

1968     White Sox      67      12     1    0
1969     White Sox     367     103    18    2
1970     White Sox     555     158    28    4
1971     White Sox     500     147    21    7
1972     White Sox     523     161    26    3
1973     White Sox     553     148    20    0
1974     White Sox     551     137    19    2
1975     White Sox     454     123    19    2
1976     Chi./NYY      351      91    13    2
1977     NYY/Cal.      199      47     7    1
Totals               4,120   1,127   172   23

MAJOR LEAGUE CAREER

Year     Team        HR     R   RBI     BA

1968     White Sox    0     4     1   .179
1969     White Sox   18    62    62   .281
1970     White Sox   12    83    68   .285
1971     White Sox    7    64    70   .294
1972     White Sox   12    83    68   .308
1973     White Sox   20    62    96   .268
1974     White Sox    8    66    58   .249
1975     White Sox    8    55    53   .271
1976     Chi./NYY     3    45    43   .259
1977     NYY/Cal.     2    21    17   .236
Totals               90   545   536   .274

JANPANESE LEAGUE CAREER

Year     Team            AB     H   2B   3B

1978     Nankai Hawks   414   129   17    2
1979     Nankai Hawks   398   122   15    1
1980     Nankai Hawks   423   138   24    0
1981     Nankai Hawks    --    --   --   --

JANPANESE LEAGUE CAREER

Year     Team           HR     R   RBI     BA

1978     Nankai Hawks   12    51    80   .312
1979     Nankai Hawks   26    59    75   .307
1980     Nankai Hawks   27    66    75   .326
1981     Nankai Hawks    5    --    --     --

Note: Stats for May's 1981 season with the Nankai Hawks
were incomplete.
BROTHERS WITH THE MOST COMBINED CAREER HOME RUNS

(To qualify for the chart all brothers must have hit
at least one major league home run)

Last Name   Brothers, HR                       Total

Aaron       Hank (755), Tommie (13)             768
DiMaggio    Joe (361), Dom (87), Vince (125)    573
Murray      Eddie (504), Rich (4)               506
Ripken      Cal (431), Billy (20)               451
May         Lee (354), Carlos (90)              444
Boyer       Ken (282), Clete (162)              444
Nettles     Graig (390), Jim (16)               406
Allen       Dick (351), Hank (6), Ron (1)       358