- 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 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 (85 years old)
May 28 American Basketball Hall of Fame guard, executive (LA Lakers, 14-time NBA All Star), born in Chelyan, West Virginia
- May 29 Fay Vincent, American lawyer and sports executive (MLB Commissioner 1989-92), born in Waterbury, Connecticut
About May 1938
How Old? 85 years old
Generation: Silent Generation
Leap Year: No
Baseball Players
Basketball Stars
Boxers
Footballers
NFL Stars
Tennis Champions