Billy Sample (1988) - JMU Athletics Hall of Fame - James Madison University Athletics

Billy Sample

Induction:
1988
Class:
1977

Billy Sample ('77) was the leading player among an outstanding group of performers who made JMU baseball nationally recognized for the first time in the mid-1970s. Sample had a JMU-record career batting of .388 and was a first-team Division II All-American as a second baseman in 1976 when he batted .421. He led JMU to the NCAA Division II Tournament that season and was drafted as a junior by the Texas Rangers. He played professionally for the next decade, including FROM 1978-86 in the major leagues with the Texas Rangers, New York Yankees and Atlanta Braves. Sample batted .416 as a freshman in 1974 and .296 as a sophomore in 1975. In addition to his .421 batting average in 1976, he also drove in 49 runs and stole 27 bases in 42 games. At the major league level he had a .272 career batting average, and he was fifth in the American League with 42 stolen bases in 1983. Sample played with Texas from 1978-84, with New York in 1985 and with Atlanta in 1986. Since retiring as a player, Sample has worked with National Public Radio and has been a baseball analyst with the broadcast crews for the Atlanta Braves and California Angels.