Merrill May

Born: 1/18/1911 in Laconia, IN, USA

Died: 9/4/2000 in Corydon, IN, USA

MLB Debut: 1939-04-21 | Final Game: 1943-10-03

Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'11" | Weight: 165 lbs

Full name: Merrill Glend May

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Biography

Merrill May was a professional baseball player born in 1911, who played in Major League Baseball from 1939 to 1943. Primarily serving as a position player, May appeared in a total of 665 games throughout his career. He showcased his offensive skills with 610 hits, accumulating a batting average of .275. While power was not his defining trait, he managed to hit 4 home runs and drive in 215 runs during his time in the league, also demonstrating speed on the bases with 13 stolen bases to his credit. May's career was highlighted by an All-Star selection, underscoring his impact on the field during the early 1940s, a period marked by the challenges of World War II that affected many athletes. His contributions to the game were significant, particularly as he played during an era that was transitioning in terms of talent and style, moving away from the deadball era toward a more offense-oriented game. Despite the limited power numbers, May's consistency and ability to connect with the ball made him a valuable player for his teams. His legacy remains a testament to the skilled athletes who navigated the complexities of baseball during a transformative period in the sport's history.

Career Batting Statistics

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS	PIV
665	2215	210	610	102	11	4	215	13	261	121	0.275	0.354	0.337	0.691	-54.3

Career AVG .275 vs. league average .263 across their career seasons — near league average.

Career OBP .354 vs. league average .332 across their career seasons — +6.8% above league average.

Career SLG .337 vs. league average .370 across their career seasons — 8.9% below league average.

Career OPS 0.691 vs. league average 0.701 across their career seasons — near league average.

Season-by-Season Batting

Year	Team	Lg	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	AVG	Lg AVG	Lg OBP	Lg SLG	Lg OPS	PIV
1939	PHI	NL	135	464	49	133	27	3	2	62	4	41	20	0.287	.274 (+5%)	.342 (+1%)	.393 (-6%)	.735 (-3%)	-220.6
1940	PHI	NL	136	501	59	147	24	2	1	48	2	58	33	0.293	.267 (+10%)	.335 (+11%)	.387 (-8%)	.722 (avg)	267.7
1941	PHI	NL	142	490	46	131	17	4	0	39	2	55	30	0.267	.262 (+2%)	.332 (+3%)	.373 (-15%)	.705 (-6%)	-456.3
1942	PHI	NL	115	345	25	82	15	0	0	18	3	51	17	0.238	.253 (-6%)	.323 (+4%)	.349 (-20%)	.672 (-8%)	-325.2
1943	PHI	NL	137	415	31	117	19	2	1	48	2	56	21	0.282	.255 (+10%)	.324 (+13%)	.346 (-1%)	.671 (+6%)	680.1