Events in Sport
- May 2 Ross Barnes hit 1st home run in National League
- May 15 2nd Kentucky Derby: Bobby Swim aboard Vagrant wins in 2:38.25
- May 25 4th Preakness: G Barbee aboard Shirley wins in 2:44.75
Birthdays in Sport
- May 3 Bert Hopkins, Australian cricket fast bowler (20 Tests, 26 wickets), born in Young, Australia (d. 1931)
- May 3 E. B. Dwyer, Australian-born cricketer (Sussex), born in Redfern, Australia (d. 1912)
- May 17 Alban Collignon, Belgian sport journalist, born in Mechelen, Belgium (d. 1955)
- May 26 Jack Root, Austrian-American boxing's 1st light heavyweight champion, born in Frahelž, Bohemia, Czech Republic (d. 1963)