Events in Sport
- May 6 87th Kentucky Derby: John Sellers aboard Carry Back wins in 2:04
- May 9 Baltimore Oriole Jim Gentile hits 2 grand slams (9 RBIs) vs Minnesota Twins
- May 12 Russian Mikhail Botvinnik wins world chess championship for 3rd time
- May 14 Stirling Moss wins the 1961 Monaco Grand Prix
- May 20 86th Preakness: Johnny Sellers aboard Carry Back wins in 1:57.6
- May 27 Fiorentina of Italy win 1st European Cup Winner's Cup against Glasgow Rangers 4-2 in Florence (2nd leg)
- May 27 Ralph Boston of US, sets then long jump record at 27' ½"
- May 27 60th Men's French Championships: Manuel Santana beats Nicola Pietrangeli (4-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-0, 6-2)
- May 27 60th Women's French Championships: Ann Haydon beats Yola Ramirez (6-2, 6-1)
Event of Interest
May 30 Indianapolis 500: A. J. Foyt wins in 3:35:37.540 (223.908 km/h)
A. J. Foyt
- May 31 European Cup Final, Wankdorf Stadium, Bern: Benfica beats Barcelona 3-2; first Portuguese team to reach final and win the tournament
Birthdays in Sport
- May 1 Charlie O'Brien, American MLB catcher (pioneered hockey style catcher's mask), born in Tulsa, Oklahoma
- May 1 Steven Cauthen, American Hall of Fame jockey (1978 Triple Crown-Affirmed, The Derby 1985, 1987), born in Covington, Kentucky
- May 2 Peter Doohan, Australian professional tennis player, born in Newcastle, NSW (d. 2017)
- May 3 Steve McClaren, English football manager, born in Fulford, York, England
- May 4 Eugene Daniel, American football NFL center (Indianapolis Colts, Baltimore Ravens), born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
- May 4 Luis Herrera, Colombian cyclist, born in Fusagasugá, Colombia
- May 8 Riaz Poonawalla, cricketer (Indian 12th man/UAE bat 1994 ICC Trophy)
- May 9 Rene Capo, Pinal del Rio Cuba, half-heavyweight judoka (Olympics 1996)
- May 10 Blyth Tait, England, NZ equestrian 3 day event (Olympic gold 1996)
- May 10 Randy Cunneyworth, Etobicoke, NHL left wing (Ottawa Senators)
- May 12 Thomas Dooley, German-American Soccer Player
Dennis Rodman
May 13 Dennis Rodman, NBA forward (Chicago Bulls), born in Trenton, New Jersey
Dennis Rodman
- May 14 Alain Vigneault, Canadian ice hockey coach
- May 16 Kevin Guidry, NFL tackle (Denver Broncos)
- May 20 Vaughn Jefferis, Matangi NZ, equestrian 3 day event (Olymp-bronze-96)
- May 23 Dave Babych, Edmonton, NHL defenseman (Vancouver Canucks)
- May 23 Kevin Romine, baseball player
- May 26 Stephen Pate, American golfer (6 PGA Tour titles, US Open 1988, US Masters 1990 3rd), born in Ventura, California
- May 27 Jill Sterkel, US swimmer (Olympic bronze 1976, 84, 88)
- May 27 John Lugbill, Wauseon Ohio, US canoeist/kayaker (Olympic-92)
Deaths in Sport
- May 2 J C White, cricketer (49 wickets in 15 Tests for England 1921-31), dies