- May 3 Chris Cannizzaro, American baseball player, born in Oakland, California (d. 2016)
- May 7 Johnny Caldwell, Irish flyweight boxer (Olympic bronze 1956), born in Belfast, Ireland (d. 2009)
- May 8 Javed Burki, cricketer (Pakistani batsman in 25 Tests 1960-69)
- May 10 Manuel Santana, Spanish tennis player (4-time Grand Slam singles champion), born in Madrid, Spain
- May 10 Merritt Ranew, baseball player
- May 20 Christina Bass-Kaiser, 3K Dutch speed skater (Olympic gold 1972)
- May 24 Glen Hall, cricket leg-spinner (South African in one Test v England 1964)
- May 25 Ludmil Buldakova, USSR, volleyball player (Olympic gold 1972)
Jerry West
May 28 Jerry West, American Basketball Hall of Fame guard, executive (LA Lakers, 14-time NBA All Star), born in Chelyan, West Virginia
Jerry West
- May 29 Francis Thomas (Fay) Vincent, baseball commissioner