Billy Sample

Born: 4/2/1955 in Roanoke, VA, USA

MLB Debut: 1978-09-02 | Final Game: 1986-10-05

Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'9" | Weight: 175 lbs

Full name: William Amos Sample

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Biography

Billy Sample was born in 1955 and enjoyed a seven-year Major League Baseball career that spanned from 1978 to 1986. Primarily a position player, Sample made a significant impact on the field during his time in the league. He played in a total of 826 games, amassing 684 hits, 46 home runs, and 230 RBIs. With a solid batting average of .272, he demonstrated a consistent ability to contribute offensively. Additionally, Sample showcased his speed on the bases, successfully stealing 98 bases throughout his career, which highlighted his versatility and dynamic playing style. Sample played during an era characterized by its transition from the deadball period into a more offensive-focused game. His ability to blend power and speed made him a valuable asset to the teams he played for, including the Texas Rangers and the New York Yankees. While Sample may not have reached the heights of some of his contemporaries, his contributions to the game and his role in the evolution of baseball in the late 20th century remain noteworthy. After retiring from professional play, he left behind a legacy as a player who exemplified the spirit of competition in the sport.

Career Batting Statistics

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS	PIV
826	2516	371	684	127	9	46	230	98	195	230	0.272	0.329	0.384	0.713	-109.2

Career AVG .272 vs. league average .260 across their career seasons — near league average.

Career OBP .329 vs. league average .325 across their career seasons — near league average.

Career SLG .384 vs. league average .388 across their career seasons — near league average.

Career OPS 0.713 vs. league average 0.712 across their career seasons — near league average.

Season-by-Season Batting

Year	Team	Lg	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	AVG	Lg AVG	Lg OBP	Lg SLG	Lg OPS	PIV
1978	TEX	AL	8	15	2	7	2	0	0	3	0	0	3	0.467	—	—	—	—	0.0
1979	TEX	AL	128	325	60	95	21	2	5	35	8	37	28	0.292	.265 (+10%)	.329 (+11%)	.397 (+5%)	.727 (+7%)	535.8
1980	TEX	AL	99	204	29	53	10	0	4	19	8	18	15	0.260	.264 (-2%)	.326 (+3%)	.387 (-5%)	.714 (-2%)	-12.4
1981	TEX	AL	66	230	36	65	16	0	3	25	4	17	21	0.283	.255 (+11%)	.320 (+8%)	.368 (+6%)	.688 (+7%)	301.6
1982	TEX	AL	97	360	56	94	14	2	10	29	10	27	35	0.261	.261 (avg)	.324 (-2%)	.388 (+1%)	.712 (avg)	4.0
1983	TEX	AL	147	554	80	152	28	3	12	57	44	44	46	0.274	.260 (+5%)	.324 (+2%)	.389 (+3%)	.714 (+2%)	268.4
1984	TEX	AL	130	489	67	121	20	2	5	33	18	29	46	0.247	.259 (-5%)	.322 (-11%)	.384 (-15%)	.707 (-13%)	-1339.5
1985	NYY	AL	59	139	18	40	5	0	1	15	2	9	10	0.288	.257 (+12%)	.323 (+4%)	.390 (-12%)	.714 (-5%)	-96.6
1986	ATL	NL	92	200	23	57	11	0	6	14	4	14	26	0.285	.257 (+11%)	.325 (+4%)	.395 (+9%)	.720 (+7%)	229.4

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position	G	GS	PO	A	E	DP
2B	1	0	0	0	0	0
OF	711	620	1378	32	18	5

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year	Team	Pos	G	GS	PO	A	E	DP
1978	TEX	OF	2	1	0	0	0	0
1979	TEX	OF	103	79	173	7	0	1
1980	TEX	OF	72	52	105	2	3	0
1981	TEX	OF	64	63	132	4	1	1
1982	TEX	OF	91	88	196	6	4	0
1983	TEX	OF	146	139	329	8	4	0
1984	TEX	OF	122	112	285	3	4	2
1985	NYA	OF	55	43	89	1	1	0
1986	ATL	2B	1	0	0	0	0	0
1986	ATL	OF	56	43	69	1	1	1