Lee May

Who: First Baseman Lee May

Team: Cincinnati Reds

Card: 1972 Topps NL Home Run Leaders

Acquired: In Person, Redsfest 2009

Comments: Lee May, "The Big Bopper" signed this with precision at Redsfest for me. It's another addition to the '72 Topps Reds set and the only Leaders sub-set card any Red appears on - I believe. While I do love me some multi-signed cards, I'm afraid this is where this card meets its final resting place in my binder.

1971 Home Run Leaderboard:

48 Willie Stargell
47 Hank Aaron
39 Lee May

Lee May

Who: First Baseman Lee May

Team: Cincinnati Reds

Card: 1969 Topps

Acquired: In Person (8/2/09)

Comments: I've received a few autographs from Lee May, but this one is a bit more special than the others. When I met Mr. May this time, I also had my 3-year-old nephew, Brayden, with me. Mr. May was signing autographs in the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum before a Sunday Reds game. Along with the card above, Mr. May also signed a card for Brayden, his first in-person autograph. Of course, Mr. May was fantastic with Brayden, giving him a couple of high-five and posing for a photo with us. He is certainly one of the nicest ballplayers I've ever met.

All-in-all that day was awesome. Not only did we get Brayden an autograph from a Reds great, but I was also able to snag a ball for him that was hit during batting practice by one of the Colorado Rockies. All that on top of the stadium giveaway that day - a kids-sized Jay Bruce mesh jersey. The little guy took home a lot of loot that day, but I have a fantastic memory with my nephew.

George Foster & Lee May

Who: Outfielder George Foster & First Baseman Lee May

Team: Cincinnati Reds

Card: 1976 Topps RBI Leaders (#3)

Acquired: In Person, Reds Hall of Fame & Museum (Lee May - 4/26/09) (George Foster 6/6/09)

Comments: This is the first dual card I've ever completed, and it's a neat one for a Reds fan. Of course, you have current Red at the time, George Foster on the card. But, former Red Lee May was the RBI leader for the American League in 1976, playing for the Baltimore Orioles. Oh... how many RBIs did they have? Right... Lee May with 109 and George Foster with 121. The Reds Joe Morgan was second behind Foster with 111, still outpacing the American League leading May.

The card was signed at two different times, but at the same place, the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum. Lee signed this the same day he also signed this card for me. George signed the card at the Hall of Fame this past Saturday before the Reds game.

Lee May

Who: First Baseman Lee May

Team: Cincinnati Reds

Card: 1970 Topps

Acquired: In Person (4/26/09)

Comments: "The Big Bopper" signed two cards for me over the weekend at the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum at Great American Ballpark. The Reds HOF is doing a series of signings this year featuring Reds of the past. The currently featured exhibit at the HOF is about Crosely Field, so I imagine that they will feature Reds who took the field at Crosley, as Lee May did. The next signing is Leo Cardneas on May 9th.

I had actually seen Lee May speak a few weeks ago with a teammate of his, Tommy Helms. He and Mr. Helms played together while with the Reds (May at 1st, Helms at 2nd) and later with the Astros. They are good friends and it showed in their talk - they were total cut-ups. I really enjoyed it. I wasn't able to get an autograph that evening, but when I learned about the Lee May signing at the Reds HOF last Friday, I made a point to go.

Not many folks were in the museum when I met Mr. May, likely due to the $10 admission that is required to enter. I'm a member of the museum, so I was taken care of on that front. We had a small chat about baseball, mostly about Joey Votto and playing first base. Like Lee May, I played first base... but didn't quite get to the bigs. Ha. Overall, it was a very nice encounter with a great Red of the past.

Mr. May was kind enough to sign two cards for me. The other is a dual card with another Red from the '70s. Once the other half of that card is signed, I'll have it posted here. I do have one other signed Lee May card as well.

Lee May

Who: First Basemen Lee May

Team: Cincinnati Reds

Card: 1983 Topps

Acquired: Redsfest 2007

Comments: Lee May is the Reds hall of famer that is probably most famous for being traded for Joe Morgan. Others were in involved in the trade, of course. May put up some great numbers for the Reds and Houston in the late '60s and early 70's. I really wished I had a better card for him to sign. Question: Does he always sign this particular card on the KC side? Is that so all is Reds glory comes through?