- May 1 American golfer Debbie Austin wins the Birmingham Classic, the first of 5 LPGA Tour victories in a 4-month span
- May 1 American golfer Gene Littler wins the Houston Open, his 29th and final PGA title
- May 1 French runner Chantal Langlacé sets female world marathon record (2:35:15.4) in Oyarzun, Spain
- May 3 1977 NFL Draft: Ricky Bell from USC first pick by Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Kentucky Derby
May 7 103rd Kentucky Derby: Jean Cruguet on Seattle Slew wins in 2:02.2
Sports History
May 11 Ted Turner manages an Atlanta Braves game
- May 14 KC Royals Jim Colborn no-hits Texas Rangers, 6-0
- May 14 Stanley Cup Final, Boston Garden, Boston, MA: Jacques Lemaire scores twice as Montreal Canadiens edge Boston Bruins, 2-1 in OT for a 4 game sweep and back-to-back titles
Boxing Title Fight
May 16 Muhammad Ali beats Alfredo Evangelist in 15 for heavyweight boxing title
- May 21 102nd Preakness: Jean Cruguet aboard Seattle Slew wins in 1:54.4
- May 21 San Diego Padres beat Mont Expos, 11-8, in 21 innings
- May 22 Red Sox (6) & Brewers (5) tie single game HR record of 11
- May 25 21st European Cup: Liverpool beats Borussia Monchengladbach 3-1 at Rome
- May 29 Australian Sue Prell first female golfer to hit consecutive holes-in one; 13th and 14th holes at Chatswood Golf Club, Sydney
Indy 500
May 29 Indianapolis 500: A. J. Foyt. becomes first driver to win Indy 500 four times; last time winning car built entirely within US; Janet Guthrie first female to qualify, lasts 27 laps
- May 30 Cleveland Indian Dennis Eckersley no-hits California Angels, 2-0
Baseball Players
Basketball Stars
Boxers
Footballers
NFL Stars
Tennis Champions