- May 1 80th Kentucky Derby: Raymond York wins aboard Determine, his only Derby success
- May 1 Preston North End defender Joe Marston becomes the first Australian to play in an FA Cup Final, a 3-2 loss to WBA
Baseball Record
May 2 MLB St. Louis Cardinal Stan Musial hits 5 HRs in a doubleheader against the New York Giants at Busch Stadium
Sports History
May 6 English athlete Roger Bannister becomes first to run a sub-4 minute mile, recording 3:59:4 at Iffley Road Track, Oxford
- May 8 1st shot-put throw over 60' (18.29 m) by American Parry O'Brien, Los Angeles, California
Baseball History
May 16 Ted Williams gets 8 hits in 1st game (DH) since breaking collarbone
French Open Men's Tennis
May 29 French Championships Men's Tennis: Tony Trabert beats Art Larsen 6-4, 7-5, 6-1 for first of 2 straight French singles titles
French Open Women's Tennis
May 29 French Championships Women's Tennis: Maureen Connolly retains her title; beats Ginette Bucaille of France 6-4, 6-1
- May 30 Dutch bishops forbid membership to non-catholic sporting clubs
- May 31 Indianapolis 500: Bill Vukovich takes the lead on lap 150 to win his second consecutive 500; sets then record 130.840 mph average race speed
Baseball Players
Basketball Stars
Boxers
Footballers
NFL Stars
Tennis Champions