#57 BILLY SAMPLE

FAVORITE BRAVES PLAYERS OF THE 1980'S

#57 BILLY SAMPLE 
ATLANTA BRAVES 1986

During the Braves late 80's doldrums, the team actually put together a fairly productive bench of reserve players. These players were dubbed "The Bomb Squad" by former all-star Ted Simmons and charter member of the "BS." For my version of the Bomb Squad, I use the phrase in more general terms for eighteen players the Braves got at the wrong end of their career during that decade.

Billy Sample 1986

AND ON THE LIST WITHIN A LIST...

COMING IN AT #2 ON THE LIST-

"THE BOMB SQUAD: 1980'S FORMERLY PRODUCTIVE 

MAJOR LEAGUE PLAYERS THE BRAVES ACQUIRED

NEAR THE END OF THEIR CAREER"-Billy Sample

Career: Billy Sample's pre-Brave resume isn't quite as impressive as most of the other bomb squad members, but he was was a starter for many of his eight seasons in the majors before coming to the Braves in 1986.

The Bomb squad: I remember Billy in '86 as being at the forefront of the bomb squad. Billy hit six home runs in his part-time role with the Braves that year, including one off of Mike Scott of the Astros on April 13th, during a season when it didn't seem like anyone could hit Mike Scott. Billy parlayed his last season with the Braves into later joining the Braves broadcast team where he described himself as "The Bob Newhart of announcers."

Billy Sample 1982