CHICAGO — Bill Melton, a star slugger for the Chicago White Sox in the 1970s and then a fixture on Chicago broadcasts as a pregame and postgame television analyst for more than two decades, has died.
He was 79 years old.
The team announced that he died early Thursday in Phoenix after a brief illness.
Born in Gulfport, Mississippi, Melton made his debut with the White Sox in 1968 and spent eight of his 10 major league seasons with the club. “Beltin' Bill” led the American League with 33 home runs in both the 1970 and 1971 seasons and was named to his only All-Star team.
Until then, no White Sox player had ever hit 30 hits in a season or led the league.
Melton batted .253 with 160 home runs and 591 RBIs during his career with the California Angels in 1976 and the Cleveland Indians in 1977.
His 154 home runs with the White Sox remained a franchise record until Hall of Famer Harold Baynes broke it in 1987.
Melton returned to the White Sox in 1992 as a team ambassador and part-time scout.
He worked with Michael Jordan as one of his hitting instructors after he first retired from the NBA in 1993.
Twins vs. White Sox in Chicago in 2018. AP
Melton joined the television broadcast team in 1998 as a pregame and postgame analyst and continued in that role until his retirement in 2020.
“Bill Melton enjoyed two outstanding careers with the White Sox,” White Sox president Jerry Reinsdorf said in a statement. “He first emerged as the famous home run king of the White Sox teams in the early 1970s, where the 'Beltin Bill' empowered teams to play their home games in pitcher-friendly ballparks. Photos of Bill wearing the home run crown and posing with ballpark organist Nancy Faust still bring smiles to this day.
“Bill's second career was as a popular and well-respected pregame and postgame television analyst, and Sox fans witnessed his passion for the team night after night, win or lose. Bill He was a friend to many in the White Sox and baseball community, and his energetic voice will be greatly missed.”
Melton is survived by his wife Tess, son Billy, daughter Jennifer, and grandchildren.
