He played in Major League Baseball as an outfielder from 1967 through 1978 for the Baltimore Orioles, Milwaukee Brewers, Atlanta Braves, Texas Rangers and the Pittsburgh Pirates.

May was a member of the AL pennant winning Orioles team in 1969 and, was an American League All-Star player with the Brewers in 1973.

After an off year in 1972, he rebounded to finish eighth in the MVP voting in 1973 with a .303 batting average, 25 home runs, and 93 RBI.

May was part of a five-for-one trade that sent him, Ken Henderson, Roger Moret, Adrian Devine, Carl Morton and $200,000 from the Braves to the Rangers for Jeff Burroughs on December 9, 1976.

May then became a minor league coach, serving as a roving hitting instructor for the Atlanta Braves in 1981 and 1982 May was inducted into the Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame in 1984.