Bill Melton, a former baseball player and broadcaster, passed away on Thursday morning in Phoenix after a short illness. He was 79 years old.
Melton, originally from Gulfport, Mississippi, joined the White Sox straight out of high school in 1964. Back then, there wasn’t an amateur draft yet. He made his big-league debut in 1968 and quickly became one of the team’s top players with a .255 batting average and 23 home runs in his first full season.
In 1970 and 1971, Melton had his best years. He hit .266 with 33 home runs each year and led the American League in homers in ’71. That year got him an All-Star Game spot and MVP votes!
Melton’s Career Highlights:
From ’68 to ’75, Melton played 976 games for the White Sox with a .254 average and smashed 154 home runs. His record stood until Harold Baines broke it in ’87; now Melton ranks ninth for most homers with the team.
The White Sox traded him to the Angels at the end of ’75, who then sent him to Cleveland a year later. After retiring post-1977 season with Cleveland, he left behind stats like a .253 average and over 1,000 hits.
Fans might feel sad about this news because they remember how much he meant to baseball.
After hanging up his cleats , Melton stayed connected to baseball as an analyst on WGN and Comcast SportsNet Chicago. He also helped out with community projects for the White Sox.
What do you think about Bill Melton’s legacy?
