Umpire Profile

Umpire Profile

Marcus “The Future” May

By Gary Reals

Baseball has been Marcus May’s love since he grew up in small-town Virginia, just south of Petersburg, in the 1960s and ’70s. “I was always the best at basketball and football,” explains Marcus, “but baseball was always my favorite.” As a youngster and the oldest of five kids, Marcus quickly became enamored with the sport: “Every Saturday morning I watched Hank Aaron on baseball’s Home Run Derby.” That was his primer on many a day, “We kids would go out in the field in Stony Creek and play til dark.”

Following the exploits of Hank Aaron sweetly coincided with the local MLB farm team of the Atlanta Braves, the AAA Richmond Braves, being located so closely and fueled Marcus’s appetite only more: “No one would ever see me without a baseball in one hand and a glove in the other.”

By the time the young May reached high school, he played all three major sports, “I was super fast and played center field and left field for the Sussex County Central Tigers.” But while he could run fast, “I couldn’t hit and wasn’t able to get my batting average up.”

After graduating from high school in 1980, Marcus made his way to Carson-Newman University located near the Great Smoky Mountains of eastern Tennessee. It was there that May, who had earlier been diagnosed with a bone deficiency issue, pleaded with his parents to allow him to play football. Well, Blues, the young fellow learned the hard way: “I ruined my knees.” So, after 2 years, “I came home and got a job.” And as it turned out, it was a pretty good job!

Then a sharp 21-year-old, Marcus thought it wise to have his mom take him shopping for some nice attire before starting his work-life at the Hahn Systems, a highly regarded manufacturer and distributor of construction equipment. After all, Mr. May wanted to make a good first impression, ya know. No problem, brothers. His new boss informed Marcus upon arrival, “You’re assistant Supervisor of the evening shift at Hahn!” He worked there for the next ten years and learned a lot.

Then Marcus May’s life began expanding….and what better place to expand than to the DMV, which really wasn’t even called the DMV back then. The change of location gave change to careers for Marcus too. In short order he became part-owner of the Athletic House of Springfield, VA. And what did that do, Blues? “It gave me the opportunity to get to know lots of people in the local sports community in the 1990’s.” Bingo!

By that time, May had also returned to the love of his life. In addition to sports, that love also enveloped the kids. Listen to him please…“I love kids and I love sports.” He continues, “I watched a lot of youth sports with a friend and realized some of the coaches didn’t know much.”

And with that, Marcus May launched his coaching career, which ultimately became very extensive. He coached baseball and football for 3 years with SYC, Springfield Youth Club, one of the largest youth sporting organizations in the region. In addition to that Marcus played a lot of competitive softball.

But change happens and one of those changes that took place around the turn of the century was the growth of sporting goods stores with many of the little ones being gobbled up by the big ones. Marcus and partners sold out to one of the giants. He then did a “pivot” and became Marketing Director and soon Vice-President of Operations for DC Dynamic construction company where he remained for about the next 10 years. During that time, he moved to Upper Marlboro, MD. And that’s where May’s expertise blossomed not only in coaching but in organizationing growth in youth sports. He assisted Upper Marlboro Boys & Girls Clubs in all 3 major sports. He started PG Select travel baseball and he started Upper Marlboro Little League which became part of the Maryland Little League. “What we did was present kids with as many opportunities as you could get to see how far they could go in the sport of their choice.” Hallelujah!

And of course Marcus May has a few kids of his own, 3 boys and a girl. Youngest son Matthew is the baseball player of the family. Dad was of course very proud, “I’d been coaching him until age 14.” Dad May followed son May around to many high-level travel tournaments. In high school baseball at Charles Flowers in Upper Marlboro, Matthew became the starting catcher and eventually recipient of All-State Catcher Award in 2022. From there Matthew May attended Virginia State University and was a stand-out catcher before earning his degree in 2025.

In the meantime, what about Dad? Well, back in 2017, Marcus was at church one Sunday when he was “…changed forever!” Attending church that Sunday at Providence St. John the Baptist in Upper Marlboro was one Cheryl Bell. Ms. Bell just happened to be the Executive Chef at Miriam’s Kitchen, which has been feeding nutritious meals to the unhoused around Foggy Bottom since 1983. She introduced herself to Marcus and suggested he might be interested. Marcus, “I thought about it all week and came to the conclusion ‘get out of your own way!’” He started at Miriam’s as sous chef and in about 6 months rose to Executive Sous Chef which he served for 8 years before retiring just about one year ago in December, 2025.

Now Blues, as you may have discerned, this gent has worn quite a few different hats. And not one of them mentioned thus far has been of the NV or MAC variety. As a matter of fact, the word umpire does not appear in this text…until RIGHT NOW.

And as you perhaps have taken note, Marcus May has done quite well wherever he has turned his attention and applied himself. Around the time son Matthew was finishing up in high school and soon to be off to Petersburg, Virginia and college at VSU, it occurred to Dad, “I had all this free time and a light bulb went off!” Remember the love of his life? Baseball. Well, tis about time Brother May: “I had done enough coaching….arriving at the conclusion some of the parents are nuts.”

The year is 2021. He googled. Marcus messaged MAC. “I didn’t hear anything for about three weeks.” And then he received a call from Rob Porter: “We spoke for about 45 minutes.” Rob recalls, “After that first chat I wasn’t sure, but thought he might be one to watch for.”

In short order Marcus May ended up in 1st year training along with the brilliance of Anthony Mayer, Andrew Klinger and Andrew Mack among others. “I’m sitting there and thought this was very impressive”, he recalls. Indeed! Rob Porter was impressed too with one of the greatest ever classes of new MAC umpires, “He was one of the handful of bright shining stars in that 1st year training class.”

Very soon May took part in his 1st JV game. He was working the plate, teamed up with Zach Jones, for a match between Thomas Edison and Thomas Jefferson. Brothers, I repeat JV with those veritable Edison and Jefferson power house baseball programs. “I got hit 3 times in the first inning,” Marcus recalls, “The catchers couldn’t catch anything.” No problem, Brothers, he carried on…and on….and on.

Association President Dave Maher sums it up succinctly, “His life experience makes him a good umpire. He’s confident in his ability without being arrogant. And he’s not easily intimidated.”

Another quality Marcus May brings to the baseball fields of the DMV: he likes to work! Rob Porter has more than taken note: “It’s borderline insane! He works 5 or 6 games in the blink of an eye. He’s running around like a kid. Close to 300 games a year.” Marcus is just having a good time out there, Brothers, “Six games on Saturdays and Sundays are just fun. I’m not about to slow down.”

Dave Maher adds another ingredient in the May recipe: “The mental part of the game is so important. A lot of umps think about the pressure and end up making mistakes. Marcus gets that—there is real pressure in life and baseball isn’t it.”

“Serving dinner for 300 people was just another challenge for me. Actually, I function better in chaos,” says the guy who adds, “being a chef in such a kitchen hit it home for me.”

Blues, Marcus May has no illusions of umpire grandeur, “I’m perfectly happy with a little college action now and then, as well as youth recreation. As long as I’m healthy, I’m gonna get out there on the field.” Brother May doesn’t even think about the arrival of a day without baseball, “Until the Good Lord calls me home, MAC is stuck with me for better or for worse.”

After all, Brothers, he loves making the declaration, “Baseball is truly the love of my life.”