We at The Nation have lost The Big Bopper.
We lost a beloved player, a guy who played every day without a gripe, played hurt and never got involved in drama on or off the field. We lost a big, strong quiet leader who had a connection with Cincinnati Reds fans.
We have lost Lee May, who died of pneumonia in a Cincinnati hospital on July 29 at the age of 74.
Tommy Helms coined Lee as “The Big Bopper from Birmingham” and he was right. It was the perfect nickname for May.
Lee May was a 6’3” right-handed slugging first baseman for the Reds.