The Chicago White Sox announced that “Beltin'” Bill Melton, their former All-Star third baseman, has died at the age of 79 after a brief illness.
Melton played 10 seasons in the major leagues, including eight with the White Sox, and was known for his powerful bat, crushing 33 homers in back-to-back seasons in 1970 and 1971. He also secured his lone All-Star bid in 1971.
Melton would hit 154 home runs for Chicago from 1968-75, a record for the organization until it was broken by Harold Baines in 1987. Team chairman Jerry Reinsdorf said, “Bill Melton enjoyed two tremendous careers with the White Sox. His first came as a celebrated home run king for White Sox teams in the early 1970s, where ‘Beltin’ Bill brought power to a franchise that played its home games in a pitcher-friendly ballpark. Bill’s second career came as a well-liked and respected pre- and postgame television analyst, where on a nightly basis Sox fans saw his passion for the team, win or lose.”
Melton also had a successful second career in broadcasting, serving as a pre- and postgame analyst for White Sox telecasts for over two decades. In between his retirement from playing and broadcasting, Melton was also known as a part-time scout and team ambassador for the White Sox, most notably being a hitting instructor for NBA great Michael Jordan in 1993 when he played in the team’s minor leagues.
Melton finished his career hitting .253/.337/.419 with 160 homers, 591 RBI, and 1,004 hits. He will be remembered as a beloved figure in White Sox history.