Billy Sample
| Billy Sample | ||
|---|---|---|
Runs batted in | 230 | |
| Teams | ||
William Amos Sample (born April 2, 1955), is a former outfielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Texas Rangers, New York Yankees, and Atlanta Braves in parts of nine seasons spanning 1978–1986.
Early life
A native of
Major League Baseball career
Sample singled on his first major league pitch in 1978, made the Topps All Rookie Team in 1979, had his longest hitting streak (19 games) in 1981, was fifth in the American League in steals (44 of 52) in 1983, sixth in power-speed numbers and was the 10th toughest to strike out in the league, with only teammate Buddy Bell having hit more home runs of the preceding nine. Sample finished with a career .272 average.
Broadcasting and Writing career
Primarily a broadcaster/writer after his playing days, Sample has broadcast for the Braves,
Sample's daughter, Stacey, lettered in track (javelin) at the University of Rhode Island; his oldest son, Ian, caught 10 of Colt Brennan's then NCAA record 58 touchdown passes at the University of Hawaii in 2006, in addition to penning a tome about his experiences at the university titled, "Once a Warrior." Sample's youngest son, Travis, is a nationally renowned motivational trainer/fitness guru, based out of Bergen County, N.J, who highlights the philosophy of
Billy Sample most recently added filmmaker to his résumé, producing his award-winning screenplay (Hoboken Film Festival 2011) into the movie "Reunion 108," an edgy, satirical comedy with a baseball backdrop directed by filmmaker James Suttles released in October 2013.
In June 2016, Sample self-published on Amazon his first book, A Year in Pinstripes ... And Then Some, which highlighted his 1985 season with the New York Yankees that included anecdotes from his childhood, as well as his seasons with the Texas Rangers and the Atlanta Braves.
On October 18, 2019, the stadium in which Sample played American Legion baseball and high school home football games known as Municipal Field when he was growing up, later known as Kiwanis Park was renamed Billy Sample Field at Kiwanis Park. It was also the Single-A minor league home of the
External links
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet
- Billy Sample at Pura Pelota (Venezuelan Professional Baseball League)