Career
He played as a catcher in Major League Baseball from 1970 to 1984 for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Houston Astros, Detroit Tigers, Chicago White Sox, and San Francisco Giants. May drove in the one millionth run in Major League Baseball history on May 4, 1975, with a three-run home run. Milt was signed as an infielder in the 11th round of the 1968 Major League Baseball Draft by the Pirates, who then converted him into a catcher.
In the seventh inning of Game Four of that series, his pinch-hit single drove in Bob Robertson with the winning run in a 4-3 Pirate victory.
Tragedy struck the Pirates in late 1972, when outfielder Roberto Clemente died in a plane crash. May was slated to replace Clemente in the Pirates" lineup in 1973, with catcher Manny Sanguillén moving to right field
However the experiment ended by July when it was determined that Sanguillén could not adjust to playing in the outfield and May was back on the Pirates" bench. After the 1973 season, May was traded to the Houston Astros for Jerry Reuss.
He became the Astros starting catcher, replacing veteran Johnny Edwards.
He led National League catchers with a.993 fielding percentage in 1974. May led all National League catchers in 1975 with 70 assists and 47 baserunners caught stealing. He was also charged with 18 passed balls in 1975 for the Astros, who had knuckleballer Joe Niekro on their staff
On May 4, 1975, May drove in Bob Watson for Major League Baseball"s one millionth run.
May was then traded to Detroit, where he played six games in 1976, before a broken ankle sidelined him for the season. He recovered in 1977 to record 12 double plays and 0 passed balls.
In 1978, May platooned with an up and coming Lance Parrish. By 1979, Parrish had taken over as the regular Tigers catcher, and May was traded to the Chicago White Sox.
After only one year in Chicago, he then signed with the San Francisco Giants as a free agent.
John Montgomery Ward hit home run #1 in 1883‚ and the 8‚000th was hit by Bobby Bonds on September 4‚ 1971. In 1981, he batted.310 -which was the highest mark ever for a Giants catcher. In August 1983, the Giants traded him back to the Pirates for catcher Steve Nicosia.
May retired as a player after the 1984 season.