Chris Sampson
Encyclopedia
Christopher Keith Sampson (born May 23, 1978 in Channelview, Texas
, United States) is an American
Major League Baseball
right-handed pitcher
. Sampson is 6'0". Sampson attended Texas Tech University
, where he played for the Red Raiders
.
Sampson originally began his professional baseball
career in the late 1990s as a shortstop
. After batting .239, and hitting only one home run during the 1999 season in Class A baseball, Sampson decided to retire since his chances of making the Major Leagues were slim due to his poor batting stats. In the years following his retirement, he coached baseball for Collin College in Plano, Texas
, just outside of Dallas, where he would frequently throw batting practice. It was then that he realized his potential as a pitcher.
In 2003, Sampson contacted the Astros for a try-out as a pitcher. Astros Assistant General Manager
Tim Purpura
was impressed with Sampson's pitching ability and signed him to a minor league
contract. Sampson developed as a pitcher, and impressed the Astros with his performance at Triple A Round Rock Express
where he began the baseball season with a 7-1 record and a 2.64 ERA in 10 starts. His performance resulted in the Astros purchasing Sampson's contract on July 1, 2006. He made his debut the next day when he entered a blowout game for the Houston Astros
against the Cincinnati Reds
in relief of starting pitcher Wandy Rodriguez
.
Sampson made his first Major League start for the Astros on June 7, 2006. He threw a no-hitter
into the fifth inning and eventually gave up three hits and no runs in seven innings pitched on his way to a 1-0 win over the Chicago Cubs
. Interestingly, in this effort he recorded no strikeouts; 16 of his 21 batters retired were put away on ground balls. The only run came from a Brad Ausmus
home run.
Coming out of spring training, Sampson was named the 5th starter in the Astros rotation for the 2007 season. He remained with the Astros through the 2010 season when he became a free agent.
Sampson signed a minor league contract with the Colorado Rockies
for the 2011 season but was released after spring training.
On April 23, 2011, Sampson signed a minor league contract with the Florida Marlins
.
over the 2006-07 offseason
On May 15, 2007, Sampson was with his wife, Heather, as she delivered the couple's first child, an 8-pound, 14-ounce boy named C.J. The next day, Sampson pitched 6 innings, giving up 7 hits, allowing 1 run and struck out Barry Bonds
in a 2-1 victory. Before the game the umpires made him take off his hospital wristband.
Channelview, Texas
Channelview is a census-designated place in the U.S. state of Texas within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area and Harris County. The population was 29,685 at the 2000 census...
, United States) is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
right-handed pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
. Sampson is 6'0". Sampson attended Texas Tech University
Texas Tech University
Texas Tech University, often referred to as Texas Tech or TTU, is a public research university in Lubbock, Texas, United States. Established on February 10, 1923, and originally known as Texas Technological College, it is the leading institution of the Texas Tech University System and has the...
, where he played for the Red Raiders
Texas Tech University
Texas Tech University, often referred to as Texas Tech or TTU, is a public research university in Lubbock, Texas, United States. Established on February 10, 1923, and originally known as Texas Technological College, it is the leading institution of the Texas Tech University System and has the...
.
Sampson originally began his professional baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
career in the late 1990s as a shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
. After batting .239, and hitting only one home run during the 1999 season in Class A baseball, Sampson decided to retire since his chances of making the Major Leagues were slim due to his poor batting stats. In the years following his retirement, he coached baseball for Collin College in Plano, Texas
Plano, Texas
Plano is a city in the state of Texas, located mostly within Collin County. The city's population was 259,841 at the 2010 census, making it the ninth-largest city in Texas and the 71st most populous city in the United States. Plano is located within the metropolitan area commonly referred to as...
, just outside of Dallas, where he would frequently throw batting practice. It was then that he realized his potential as a pitcher.
In 2003, Sampson contacted the Astros for a try-out as a pitcher. Astros Assistant General Manager
General manager (baseball)
In Major League Baseball, the general manager of a team typically controls player transactions and bears the primary responsibility on behalf of the ballclub during contract discussions with players....
Tim Purpura
Tim Purpura
Tim Purpura is a former General Manager of the Houston Astros Major League Baseball team. He was with the club from 2005 to 2007.-Biography:...
was impressed with Sampson's pitching ability and signed him to a minor league
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
contract. Sampson developed as a pitcher, and impressed the Astros with his performance at Triple A Round Rock Express
Round Rock Express
The Round Rock Express is a class Triple-A Pacific Coast League minor league baseball team in Round Rock, Texas, owned by RSR Sports and founded by Reid Ryan, son of Baseball Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan. The team is affiliated with the Texas Rangers, for whom Nolan Ryan serves as the president and...
where he began the baseball season with a 7-1 record and a 2.64 ERA in 10 starts. His performance resulted in the Astros purchasing Sampson's contract on July 1, 2006. He made his debut the next day when he entered a blowout game for the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
against the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
in relief of starting pitcher Wandy Rodriguez
Wandy Rodríguez
Wandy Fulton Rodríguez is a Dominican pitcher for the Houston Astros. He is a native of Santiago Rodriguez, located in the North Region of the Dominican Republic.-Playing career:...
.
Sampson made his first Major League start for the Astros on June 7, 2006. He threw a no-hitter
No-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
into the fifth inning and eventually gave up three hits and no runs in seven innings pitched on his way to a 1-0 win over the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
. Interestingly, in this effort he recorded no strikeouts; 16 of his 21 batters retired were put away on ground balls. The only run came from a Brad Ausmus
Brad Ausmus
Bradley David "Brad" Ausmus is a former All Star catcher in Major League Baseball, and currently a special assistant for the San Diego Padres....
home run.
Coming out of spring training, Sampson was named the 5th starter in the Astros rotation for the 2007 season. He remained with the Astros through the 2010 season when he became a free agent.
Sampson signed a minor league contract with the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
for the 2011 season but was released after spring training.
On April 23, 2011, Sampson signed a minor league contract with the Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
.
Personal life
He got married at home plate of Minute Maid ParkMinute Maid Park
Minute Maid Park is a ballpark in Downtown Houston, Texas, United States that opened in 2000 to house the Major League Baseball Houston Astros....
over the 2006-07 offseason
On May 15, 2007, Sampson was with his wife, Heather, as she delivered the couple's first child, an 8-pound, 14-ounce boy named C.J. The next day, Sampson pitched 6 innings, giving up 7 hits, allowing 1 run and struck out Barry Bonds
Barry Bonds
Barry Lamar Bonds is an American former Major League Baseball outfielder. Bonds played from 1986 to 2007, for the Pittsburgh Pirates and San Francisco Giants. He is the son of former major league All-Star Bobby Bonds...
in a 2-1 victory. Before the game the umpires made him take off his hospital wristband.