- May 3 Chris Cannizzaro, American baseball player, born in Oakland, California (d. 2016)
- May 5 Adolf Scherer, Slovak soccer striker (36 caps Czechoslovakia; CH Bratislava, Slovnaft Bratislava, VSS Košice, Nîmes, Olympique Avignonais), born in Martin, Slovakia (d. 2023)
- May 7 Johnny Caldwell, Irish flyweight boxer (Olympic bronze 1956), born in Belfast, Ireland (d. 2009)
- May 8 Javed Burki, Pakistani cricket batsman (25 Tests, 3 x 100, 4 x 50, HS 140; Oxford University CC), born in Meerut, India
- May 9 Walt Corey, American football linebacker (AFL C'ship 1962, 66; AFL All-Star 1963; Dallas Texans/KC Chiefs) and coach (KC Chiefs, Buffalo Bills), born in Latrobe, Pennsylvania (d. 2022)
- May 10 Manuel Santana, Spanish tennis player (French Open 1961, 64; Wimbledon 1966; US Open 1965; French Open doubles 1963), born in Madrid, Spain (d. 2021)
- May 10 Merritt Ranew, baseball player
- May 14 Clive Rowlands, Welsh rugby union scrum half (14 caps; Abercraf RFC, Pontypool RFC, Llanelli RFC, Swansea RFC), born in Upper Cwmtwrch, Wales (d. 2023)
- May 20 Christina Bass-Kaiser, Dutch speed skater (Olympic gold 3000m 1972; World C'ship gold allround 1967, 68; 9 x WR's), born in Delft, Netherlands (d. 2022)
- May 21 John Todd, Australian Football HOF coach (6 × WAFL Premierships; AFL: West Coast Eagles) and half-forward (Sandover Medal 1955), born in Manjimup, Australia (d. 2024)
- May 24 Glen Hall, South African cricket leg-spinner (South African in one Test v England 1964), born in Pretoria, Transvaal (d. 1987)
- May 25 John Davies, New Zealand sports executive (President NZOC 2000-03) and athlete (Olympic bronze 1500m 1964), born in London, England (d. 2003)
- May 25 Lyudmila Buldakova, Russian volleyball player (Olympic gold USSR 1968, 72), born in Saint Petersburg, Russia (d. 2006)
Jerry West (1938-2024)
May 28 American Basketball HOF guard (NBA C'ship 1972, NBA Finals MVP 1969 LA Lakers; 14 x NBA All Star) and executive (8 x NBA C'ship), born in Chelyan, West Virginia [1]
- May 29 Fay Vincent, American lawyer and sports executive (MLB Commissioner 1989-92), born in Waterbury, Connecticut
About May 1938
How Old? 86 years old
Generation: Silent Generation
Leap Year: No
Baseball Players
Basketball Stars
Boxers
Footballers
NFL Stars
Tennis Champions