1980 rudy may

the yankees, who had traded rudy may to the orioles in july of 1976, signed him as a free agent after the 1979 season concluded. here is his 1980 o-pee-chee card:

here's the topps front:

now the o-pee-chee back:

and the topps back:

the orioles had previously sent may to the expos in the don stanhouse deal, and in 1979, the expos used him primarily as a reliever for the first time in his career. he thrived in that role, and the yankees used him the same way to start the 1980 season. may was pressed into starting duty the second half of the season, but still had one of his best seasons ever, winning 15 games and saving 3 others while leading the american league with a 2.46 era. he started game 2 of the 1980 alcs and pitched an 8-inning complete game as the yankees lost to the royals.

may and the yankees were back in the postseason in 1981, and he appeared in 3 world series games against the dodgers, surrendering just two runs (one of which came on pedro guerrero's 4th home run of the series) in a losing cause.

voici à vous, 1980 rudy may!