Former Chicago White Sox All-Star third baseman Bill Melton died Thursday in Phoenix following a brief illness, the team announced. He was 79. Melton, nicknamed “Beltin’ Bill,” led the American League with 33 home runs during the 1971 MLB season, when he earned his lone career All-Star selection.Bettmann Archive
PHOENIX — Bill Melton, the former All-Star third baseman for Major League Baseball’s Chicago White Sox who also served as a team broadcaster for more than two decades, has died. He was 79.
Melton died early Thursday morning in Phoenix following a brief illness, the team announced in a post to X.
During his 10-year MLB career, Melton earned the nickname “Beltin’ Bill” due to his home run power. He led the American League with 33 home runs during the 1971 season, earning his lone career All-Star selection while finishing 13th in AL MVP voting that season.
Melton played his first eight seasons for the White Sox before playing one season with the California Angels in 1976 and one with the then-Cleveland Indians in 1977. He played only 50 games for Cleveland before he retired from MLB after the 1977 season.
During his 10-year MLB career, Melton earned the nickname “Beltin’ Bill” due to his home run power. He led the American League with 33 home runs during the 1971 season, earning his lone career All-Star selection while finishing 13th in AL MVP voting that season.
Melton played his first eight seasons for the White Sox before playing one season with the California Angels in 1976 and one with the then-Cleveland Indians in 1977. He played only 50 games for Cleveland before he retired from MLB after the 1977 season.
Following his MLB career, Melton served as a pre-game and postgame analyst for White Sox telecasts for more than two decades, according to the team. He joined the White Sox television broadcast team on WGN in 1998 and continued in that role with Comcast SportsNet and NBC Sports Chicago until his retirement from broadcasting in 2020.
“Bill Melton enjoyed two tremendous careers with the White Sox,” White Sox Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf said in a statement. “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 was a friend to many at the White Sox and around baseball, and his booming voice will be missed. Our sympathies go out to his wife Tess, and all of their family and friends,” he added.
- Melton is also survived by son Billy, daughter Jennifer, a grandson and many extended family members, per MLB.
