May (7)
May 5th – After four years in the military, Roy Wright returned to find he had been traded from the Cardinals organization to the Giants while he was overseas. He made his only major league appearance in his first season with the Giants, taking the loss in his only game pitched.
May 8th – At just 19, Al Stanek made his major league debut, tossing 11 games for the Giants out of the bullpen. He would return to the minor leagues in 1964, and by 1967, he was done with the game at just 23. He passed at 74 years old.
May 9th – Tom Fletcher began a major league legacy that led to one son spending a long time in the major leagues while another son spent years in the minors. Fletcher showed well all the way until he got up to the majors for his debut in 1962. He dealt with a blood clot in his shoulder that kept him from ever returning to the major leagues.
May 14th – After a brief playing career for the Minnesota Twins that saw him get a start in the World Series, Frank Quilici made his mark as one of the youngest managers in the history of the game when he was hired by the Minnesota Twins at the age of 33. He won 280 games as the Twins’ skipper, but he never finished higher than 3rd and was let go after the 1975 season.
May 22nd – For nearly 20 years, Dave Garcia played in the minor leagues, nearly a decade of that time spent as a player/manager. He never reached the majors as a player, but worked as a coach and manager and found his way to a major league bench in that way in 1970. He managed two organizations, taking over after another skipper was let go for the Angels in 1977 and also in 1979 for the Indians.
May 28th – While he had parts of three seasons as a player, the impact Chuck Stevens had on the game went far beyond the field. He finished his career and became involved with the Association of Professional Ball Players of America, an organization that provided assistance to those around baseball who were in need. He helped countless people through his work for many years with the organization. From November of 2017 until his passing, he held the title of the oldest living ballplayer, passing at 99 years and 10 months.
May 29th – Not exactly built like a “big bopper,” Ray Barker nonetheless was one, clubbing 181 minor league home runs over 11 seasons while hitting .300 or better in three of those seasons. He struggled in his four seasons as a pinch hitter and backup first baseman in the major leagues, hitting just .213, but hitting 10 home runs in 356 plate appearances.