"Another free agent pitcher who made good for the Yanks. Rudy signed after playing out his option in Montreal and was extremely consistent, rarely allowing any game to get out of hand. He was called upon to pitch the second game of the playoffs, but one bad inning proved to be his downfall.
Born in Coffeyville, Kansas, his friends call him 'Dude.' Rudy originally signed with the Twins in 1963 and quickly bounced to the White Sox, Phillies and Angels before reaching the big leagues in '65. He allowed just one hit against the Tigers and Denny McLain in his big league debut, but didn't get the decision."
-Jim Hawkins, The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1981 Edition
"Besides possessing the skill of throwing breaking balls that dip sharply and fastballs that zoom, Yankee left-handed pitcher Rudy May enjoys one of the other fine skills of the modern world: communications. Rudy's a big fan of today's popular music with interests ranging from soul to rock and roll. He's also a great ham radio buff with sophisticated equipment not far out of reach when he's on the road or in his home. Rudy knows no boundaries as he corresponds with everyone from Albuquerque to Australia.
On the mound, Rudy is especially aware of communication. He is always aware of the situation and he'll always let Graig, Willie or Bucky know what he's setting up a batter for.
Like fine wine, Rudy May seems to be improving with age. In the first year of his return engagement with the Yankees (he pitched for them from mid-'74 to mid-'76), he posted the lowest ERA in the league.
Rudy's only missing link in his long baseball career is a World Series ring. Never getting the chance to work in a playoff or World Series with California, Baltimore or Montreal, Rudy has found New York an environment conducive to winning. He pitched his first playoff game in '80 and hopes to pitch his first World Series game in '81."
-The New York Yankees Official 1981 Yearbook
"May won the American League ERA title in 1980 with a 2.47 ERA, the third straight season a Yankee has won it, as Guidry won in '78 and '79. He also finished third in winning percentage (.750).
He began the season on the disabled list with a lower back sprain and was activated on April 22 as the left-hander in the bullpen, making his first 19 appearances from the pen. Rudy became primarily a starter on June 28 and was the most consistent starter through early September, going 9-3 before being sidelined with a tender left elbow. He ended the season with eight straight wins, matching his longest career winning streak.
Rudy was 10-3, 2.52 as a starter and was 7-1, 2.14 on the road. He was 3-0, 0.83 against Boston, including a six-hit shutout at Fenway on July 2. Rudy struck out 11 Blue Jays on September 17, the club high, and won the division clinching game on October 4. He's 25-8 (.758) over the last two seasons.
He signed with the Yankees after a 10-3, 2.30 ERA season in Montreal in 1979. Rudy was with the Expos for two years, coming from Baltimore with Randy Miller and Bryn Smith for Don Stanhouse, Joe Kerrigan and Gary Roenicke in December 1977. He spent a year and a half with the Orioles, recording a career high 18 wins in '77.
Rudy was part of a 10-player trade on June 15 that sent him from the Yanks to the Orioles. He had been with the Yankees for exactly two seasons, compiling a 26-19 record. Lifetime as a Yankee, he is now 41-25 (.621). Rudy had been a mainstay of the Angels from 1969 to June 15, 1974 when he was sold to the Yankees.
He originally made it to the majors in 1965 with the Angels and threw a 1-hitter against Denny McLain and the Tigers in his first game, without getting a decision. Rudy suffered a sore shoulder later in the year and struggled in the minors again for three years until the shoulder healed.
He had been signed by Minnesota in 1963 and in just two years was drafted by the White Sox who traded him to the Phillies, who traded him to the Angels in a deal involving Bo Belinsky. He struck out nine batters while at Portsmouth in 1964.
Rudy lettered in baseball, basketball, football and track at Castlemont High School in Oakland where he was a teammate of Joe Morgan and played against Willie Stargell and Paul Silas. He grew up rooting for the Giants. He credits three of his pitching coaches, George Bamberger, Jim Brewer and Whitey Ford, for helping his career the most.
Rudy enjoys fishing and two-way radios."
-1981 New York Yankees Media Guide
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