"1980 will be the second coming of Rudy May ... to Yankee Stadium. Rudy was a Yankee from mid-1974 to mid-1976. During that time, he won 26 games, primarily as a starter and was on hand when the 'new' Yankee Stadium was unveiled.
This time around, Rudy will be the main left-hander out of the bullpen. He discovered he could pitch out of the pen last year in Montreal. After a disastrous first half in which he hardly took the mound, Rudy helped the Expos battle Pittsburgh down to the wire with equal effectiveness as both a starter and a reliever. For what had started as his most distressing season ended up his best according to statistics. The Dude posted a 10-3 record and a sparkling 2.30 ERA, becoming a prime target in the free agent market.
His previous Yankee stint was sandwiched between years with the Angels and Orioles and convinced him that he'd like to return to New York and the Yankees. His close brush with the playoffs last year convinced him that he'd like to participate in some postseason activity before his retirement. Here's hoping Rudy gets his wish!"
-The New York Yankees Official 1980 Yearbook
"Rudy was used as both a starter and a reliever for the Expos in '79, his second season in the National League. Statistically, he had his best year as a pro, winning 10 of 13 decisions with a 2.30 ERA. Rudy started the season with seven straight wins, the first five being in relief. His sixth win of the year, his only shutout of the year, was his first start of the year, a 3-hit, 5-0 win over the Cardinals on July 31. Rudy didn't lose until the Reds beat him in relief on August 21.
He became a starter down the stretch for the Expos, starting six of his last seven appearances, going 3-2. He gave up only four homers all year, in 94 innings pitched, and just one over his last 20 appearances.
Rudy made it to the major leagues with the California Angels in 1965. He originally signed with Minnesota in 1963, and in just two years as a professional had been with four organizations. From the Twins he was drafted by the White Sox who traded him to the Phillies on October 14, 1964. Philadelphia then dealt him to the Angels on December 3 in a deal involving Bo Belinsky. His 1965 stint was brief due to shoulder problems.
He struggled in the minors for the next three seasons before his shoulder healed completely. He was the mainstay of the Angels staff from 1969 to 1974, when he was sold to the Yankees on June 15. May spent exactly two years with the Yankees, compiling a record of 26-19. He was 14-12 with a 3.06 ERA in his only full year with the Yanks in '75. Rudy was traded to Baltimore as part of a 10-player deal on June 15, 1976.
Rudy has recorded seven 2-hitters, seven 3-hitters and struck 16 Twins on August 10, 1972. He has had three 13-strikeout games, one 12-strikeout, one 11-strikeout and four ten-strikeout games, giving him 10 double-figure strikeout games.
Rudy broke into organized ball in 1963 after being signed by the Twins and was selected to the Northern League All-Star team that first year, coming up with an 11-11 record for Bismarck. He set a Carolina League record by striking out nine in a row for Portsmouth in 1964.
He lettered in baseball, football, basketball and track at Castlemont High School in Oakland, where he spent his childhood. He attended the University of San Francisco on a basketball scholarship. Rudy threw a 1-hitter against Denny McLain and the Tigers in his first major league game, without getting a decision.
Nicknamed 'Dude,' Rudy was a high school teammate of Joe Morgan and played against Willie Stargell and basketball's Paul Silas. He was a Giants fan as a youngster. Rudy credits three of his pitching coaches, George Bamberger, Jim Brewer and Whitey Ford, for helping his career the most."
-New York Yankees 1980 Media Guide
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