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Billy Sample

William Amos Sample

Position: Leftfielder
Bats: Right, Throws: Right
Height: 5' 9", Weight: 175 lb.

Born: April 2, 1955 in Roanoke, VA
High School: Andrew Lewis (Salem, VA)
School: James Madison University
Drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 10th round of the 1976 amateur draft. (All Transactions)
Debut: September 2, 1978
Teams (by GP): Rangers/Braves/Yankees 1978-1986

Final Game: October 5, 1986
    About biographical information


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Fine Details  · Last Updated Dec 23, 2011, 9:35AM
All-Time Rank (among Batters): #1. Babe Ruth… #2. Ted Williams… #3. Willie Mays… #4. Ty Cobb… #5. Lou Gehrig… #6. Rogers Hornsby… #7. Stan Musial… 

Standard Batting

More Stats

Year Age Tm Lg G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+ TB GDP HBP SH SF IBB Pos Awards
1978 23 TEX AL 8 15 15 2 7 2 0 0 3 0 0 0 3 .467 .467 .600 1.067 199 9 0 0 0 0 0 /7D
1979 24 TEX AL 128 377 325 60 95 21 2 5 35 8 6 37 28 .292 .365 .415 .781 112 135 6 2 10 3 1 78/9D
1980 25 TEX AL 99 234 204 29 53 10 0 4 19 8 5 18 15 .260 .335 .368 .702 96 75 4 6 4 2 2 987/D
1981 26 TEX AL 66 260 230 36 65 16 0 3 25 4 1 17 21 .283 .346 .391 .738 119 90 3 7 3 3 1 7/89
1982 27 TEX AL 97 398 360 56 94 14 2 10 29 10 2 27 35 .261 .318 .394 .712 99 142 4 3 8 0 0 78
1983 28 TEX AL 147 611 554 80 152 28 3 12 57 44 8 44 46 .274 .331 .401 .732 104 222 8 5 4 4 2 *7/89
1984 29 TEX AL 130 528 489 67 121 20 2 5 33 18 6 29 46 .247 .286 .327 .613 68 160 9 0 4 6 1 *78/9D
1985 30 NYY AL 59 154 139 18 40 5 0 1 15 2 1 9 10 .288 .336 .345 .681 89 48 2 2 2 2 0 7/8
1986 31 ATL NL 92 221 200 23 57 11 0 6 14 4 2 14 26 .285 .338 .430 .768 107 86 0 3 2 2 1 97/4
9 Seasons 826 2798 2516 371 684 127 9 46 230 98 31 195 230 .272 .329 .384 .713 98 967 36 28 37 22 8
162 Game Avg. 162 549 493 73 134 25 2 9 45 19 6 38 45 .272 .329 .384 .713 98 190 7 5 7 4 2
TEX (7 yrs) 675 2423 2177 330 587 111 9 39 201 92 28 172 194 .270 .327 .383 .710 98 833 34 23 33 18 7
ATL (1 yr) 92 221 200 23 57 11 0 6 14 4 2 14 26 .285 .338 .430 .768 107 86 0 3 2 2 1
NYY (1 yr) 59 154 139 18 40 5 0 1 15 2 1 9 10 .288 .336 .345 .681 89 48 2 2 2 2 0
AL (8 yrs) 734 2577 2316 348 627 116 9 40 216 94 29 181 204 .271 .328 .380 .708 97 881 36 25 35 20 7
NL (1 yr) 92 221 200 23 57 11 0 6 14 4 2 14 26 .285 .338 .430 .768 107 86 0 3 2 2 1

Player Value--Batters

WAR: 8+ MVP, 5+ A-S, 2+ Strtr, 0-2 Sub, < 0 Repl.
Year Age Tm Lg PA Rbat Rbaser Rroe Rdp Rfield Rpos Rrep RAR WAR oRAR oWAR dWAR Salary Pos Awards
1978 23 TEX AL 15 2 0 0 0 -1 0 1 2 0.2 3 0.3 -0.1 $ /7D
1979 24 TEX AL 377 8 3 3 1 5 -5 12 28 2.8 22 2.2 0.6 $ 78/9D
1980 25 TEX AL 234 -1 0 0 0 -3 -2 7 2 0.2 4 0.4 -0.2 $ 987/D
1981 26 TEX AL 260 8 1 2 1 2 -3 8 19 2.1 17 1.8 0.3 $ 7/89
1982 27 TEX AL 398 0 4 2 1 -3 -4 12 12 1.3 15 1.5 -0.2 $162,500 78
1983 28 TEX AL 611 2 9 1 2 5 -7 19 31 3.1 26 2.6 0.5 $215,000 *7/89
1984 29 TEX AL 528 -20 2 -1 1 -2 -4 17 -7 -0.8 -5 -0.5 -0.3 $ *78/9D
1985 30 NYY AL 154 -2 0 -1 1 1 -2 5 2 0.2 1 0.1 0.1 $435,000 7/8
1986 31 ATL NL 221 0 0 -1 1 -1 -2 7 3 0.3 5 0.5 -0.2 $470,000 97/4
9 Seasons 2798 -3 19 5 8 4 -29 88 92 9.4 88 8.9 0.5 $1,282,500
TEX (7 yrs) 2423 -1 19 7 6 4 -25 76 87 8.9 82 8.3 0.6 $377,500
ATL (1 yr) 221 0 0 -1 1 -1 -2 7 3 0.3 5 0.5 -0.2 $470,000
NYY (1 yr) 154 -2 0 -1 1 1 -2 5 2 0.2 1 0.1 0.1 $435,000

Standard Fielding

More Stats

Adv Fielding w/ run summary
Year Tm Lg Age Pos G GS CG Inn Ch PO A E DP Fld% Rtot Rtot/yr RF/9 RF/G lgFld% lgRF9 lgRFG Awards
1978 TEX AL 23 LF 2 1 0 6.0 0 0 0 0 0 -1 -140 0.00 0.00 2.25 2.20
1978 TEX AL 23 OF 2 1 0 6.0 0 0 0 0 0 -1 -140 0.00 0.00 2.40 2.45
1978 TEX AL 23 DH 1 1
1979 TEX AL 24 OF 103 79 62 728.2 180 173 7 0 1 1.000 5 9 2.22 1.75 .981 2.46 2.43
1979 TEX AL 24 LF 92 68 55 632.2 150 144 6 0 2 1.000 2 4 2.13 1.63 .980 2.22 2.20
1979 TEX AL 24 CF 10 8 4 68.0 22 21 1 0 0 1.000 2 30 2.91 2.20 .983 2.92 2.88
1979 TEX AL 24 RF 5 3 3 28.0 11 11 0 0 0 1.000 2 64 3.54 2.20 .980 2.25 2.22
1979 TEX AL 24 DH 4 4
1980 TEX AL 25 OF 72 52 31 469.0 110 105 2 3 0 .973 -3 -7 2.05 1.49 .979 2.47 2.46
1980 TEX AL 25 RF 40 30 15 257.1 47 45 2 0 0 1.000 -4 -19 1.64 1.18 .975 2.13 2.12
1980 TEX AL 25 CF 19 15 11 140.2 41 39 0 2 0 .951 -1 -12 2.50 2.05 .983 2.92 2.91
1980 TEX AL 25 LF 16 7 5 71.0 20 20 0 0 0 1.000 3 47 2.54 1.25 .980 2.35 2.35
1980 TEX AL 25 DH 1 1
1981 TEX AL 26 OF 64 63 57 558.0 137 132 4 1 1 .993 2 4 2.19 2.13 .983 2.48 2.47
1981 TEX AL 26 LF 61 60 56 524.0 131 125 5 1 1 .992 2 6 2.23 2.13 .979 2.38 2.38
1981 TEX AL 26 CF 5 3 1 30.0 5 5 0 0 0 1.000 -1 -40 1.50 1.00 .988 2.91 2.88
1981 TEX AL 26 RF 1 0 0 4.0 2 2 0 0 0 1.000 0 90 4.50 2.00 .980 2.25 2.20
1982 TEX AL 27 OF 91 88 82 786.1 206 196 6 4 0 .981 -3 -4 2.31 2.22 .982 2.47 2.46
1982 TEX AL 27 LF 85 78 76 706.1 191 182 5 4 0 .979 -3 -5 2.38 2.20 .981 2.29 2.28
1982 TEX AL 27 CF 11 10 6 80.0 21 20 1 0 0 1.000 -0 -3 2.36 1.91 .985 2.84 2.83
1983 TEX AL 28 OF 146 139 134 1245.0 341 329 8 4 0 .988 5 5 2.44 2.31 .981 2.50 2.48
1983 TEX AL 28 LF 142 135 131 1214.0 325 314 7 4 0 .988 6 5 2.38 2.26 .977 2.32 2.30
1983 TEX AL 28 CF 3 3 2 22.0 9 9 0 0 0 1.000 0 16 3.68 3.00 .987 2.95 2.90
1983 TEX AL 28 RF 2 1 1 9.0 0 0 0 0 0 -0 -67 0.00 0.00 2.20 2.25
1984 TEX AL 29 OF 122 112 107 1029.0 292 285 3 4 2 .986 -2 -3 2.52 2.36 .983 2.51 2.49
1984 TEX AL 29 LF 72 65 60 580.2 158 154 2 2 1 .987 2 5 2.42 2.17 .982 2.27 2.26
1984 TEX AL 29 CF 51 45 45 431.0 123 119 2 2 1 .984 -4 -12 2.53 2.37 .986 3.01 2.99
1984 TEX AL 29 RF 3 2 2 17.1 2 2 0 0 0 1.000 -1 -42 1.04 0.67 .980 2.23 2.20
1984 TEX AL 29 DH 1 1
1985 NYY AL 30 OF 55 43 18 352.1 91 89 1 1 0 .989 1 4 2.30 1.64 .982 2.44 2.42
1985 NYY AL 30 LF 51 40 15 323.1 80 78 1 1 0 .988 1 4 2.20 1.55 .977 2.25 2.23
1985 NYY AL 30 CF 4 3 3 29.0 8 8 0 0 0 1.000 0 0 2.48 2.00 .988 2.92 2.88
1986 ATL NL 31 OF 56 43 24 373.0 71 69 1 1 1 .986 -1 -4 1.69 1.25 .979 2.19 2.19
1986 ATL NL 31 RF 48 40 21 328.0 61 59 1 1 1 .984 -1 -2 1.65 1.25 .977 1.99 2.00
1986 ATL NL 31 LF 10 3 3 45.0 8 8 0 0 0 1.000 -0 -13 1.60 0.80 .975 1.98 1.97
1986 ATL NL 31 2B 1 0 0 0.2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 0.00 5.40 5.20
9 Seasons OF 711 620 515 5547.1 1428 1378 32 18 5 .987 4 1 2.29 1.98 .982 2.46 2.44
9 Seasons LF 531 457 401 4103.0 1063 1025 26 12 4 .989 13 4 2.31 1.98 .979 2.29 2.27
7 Seasons CF 103 87 72 800.2 229 221 4 4 1 .983 -5 -7 2.53 2.18 .985 2.96 2.93
6 Seasons RF 99 76 42 643.2 123 119 3 1 1 .992 -4 -7 1.71 1.23 .977 2.07 2.07
1 Season 2B 1 0 0 0.2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 0.00 5.40 5.20
9 Seasons TOT 712 620 515 5548.0 1428 1378 32 18 5 .987 4 1 2.29 1.98 .982 2.46 2.45
Lg Pos G GS CG Inn Ch PO A E DP Fld% Rtot Rtot/yr RF/9 RF/G lgFld% lgRF9 lgRFG Awards
Note: Fielding stats are a combination of official records and RetroSheet records. Both are likely to have substantial errors and will not match perfectly.
View Complete Notes on Fielding Data
Leagues historically made no effort to balance team, league, and player fielding stats. Since 1990 or so, computers have made this feasible, but prior to that there are hundreds or thousands of discrepancies each year in games played (even whether a player played a position), putouts, assists, double plays and errors.
  • Pre-1950 SB & CS data for catchers is estimated from catcher assists, games started and opposition stolen bases.
  • From 1950 on SB, CS, Pickoff, & WP data for catchers and pitchers is taken from play-by-play accounts in the retrosheet files. There are several hundred games without pbp from 1950 to 1973 and for those we may not have any data.
  • CG & GS come from the retrosheet data and should be complete and pretty accurate from 1919 on.
  • Innings played (like SB and CS) come from the retrosheet play-by-play data and should be considered mostly complete from 1950 to 1973 and complete from then on.
  • Stats (PO,A,G, etc) for LF-CF-RF positions (since 1919) is taken from play-by-play or box score data as available.
  • Stats (PO,A,G,etc) for C,P,1B,2B,3B,SS,OF positions is taken from the official reported totals and may have been corrected at various times since their publication.
  • For detailed information on which games retrosheet is missing play-by-play from 1950 to 1973, please see their most wanted games list
  • For detailed information on the availability of data on this site by year, see our data coverage page

Appearances on Leader Boards, Awards, and Honors

Stats are Year-Value-Rank · Glossary

Stolen Bases s c a p y
1983 AL  44 (5th)

Hit By Pitch s c a p y
1981 AL  7 (4th)

Power-Speed # s c a p y
1983 AL  18.9 (6th)

AB per SO s c a p y
1983 AL  12.0 (10th)

Range Factor/9Inn as LF (s.1954)† s c a p y
Career  2.31 (12th)

Range Factor/Game as LF (s.1954) s c a p y
1982 AL  2.20 (5th)
1983 AL  2.26 (5th)
Career  1.98 (79th)

Fielding % as LF (s.1954) s c a p y
1979 AL  1.000 (1st)
1981 AL  .992 (1st)
1983 AL  .988 (4th)
Career  .989 (14th)

Fielding % as OF s c a p y
1979 AL  1.000 (1st)

Hall Of Fame Statistics

Player rank in (·)

Gray InkBatting - 2 (2130), Average HOFer ≈ 144
Hall of Fame StandardsBatting - 5 (2192), Average HOFer ≈ 50

Similarity Scores

Explanation of Similarity Scores
Similar Batters 
 View Similar Player Links in Pop-up
 Compare Stats to Similars
  1. Thomas Howard (957)
  2. Endy Chavez (955)
  3. R.J. Reynolds (954)
  4. Marvin Benard (954)
  5. Beals Becker (952)
  6. Walt Williams (951)
  7. Quinton McCracken (950)
  8. Darren Bragg (949)
  9. Mike Menosky (949)
  10. Danny Bautista (948)
Most Similar by Ages 
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 Hold mouse over #'s to see names
  1. David Dellucci (980)  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 C
  2. Tom Poquette (974)  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 C
  3. Alex Ochoa (984)  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 C
  4. Marvin Benard (967)  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 C
  5. Marvin Benard (966)  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 C
  6. Dan Gladden (974)  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 C
  7. Dan Gladden (962)  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 C

Transactions

The transaction information used here was obtained free of charge from and is copyrighted by RetroSheet. We attempt to update transactions throughout the season.

Salaries

Salaries may not be complete (especially pre-1985) and may not include some earned bonuses
Year Age Team Salary Sources Notes
198227Texas Rangers$162,5001984 TSN Guide 25; T. Timmerman database
198328Texas Rangers$215,0001984 TSN Guide 25; T. Timmerman databasePlayer loss; $300,000 request
198530New York Yankees$435,0001985 USA Today survey
198631Atlanta Braves$470,0001986 USA Today survey
Career to date (may be incomplete)$1,282,500
Salary Data (about) courtesy Doug Pappas, and the Society for American Baseball Research.
Salaries for mid-season call-ups or traded players may not be shown.

Other Resources & Links

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Viewed 7,644 times through February 11, 2012.
Name and misspellings: William Amos Bill billie billy Will William Sample

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