A lefthanded-hitting catcher, May cost the Astros pitcher Jerry Reuss in trade before the 1974 season and was traded to Detroit two years later in an eight-man deal. Projected as a star player held back by the presence of Manny Sanguillen in Pittsburgh, May didn't live up to his potential in Houston where he hit .265 with 11 homers.

After three seasons in Detroit, May went to the White Sox and Giants before closing his 15-year career back in Pittsburgh. Overall, he batted .263 with 77 homers.

One footnote is that it was May's homer that plated Bob Watson in 1975 with Baseball's millionth run against the Giants.