CHICAGO -- Bill Melton launched 160 home runs over his 10-year Major League career, including an American League-best 33 for the White Sox in 1971.

But the talented third baseman, who passed away at the age of 79 early Thursday morning in Phoenix, might be just as recognized for his wit, honest candor and unmatched storytelling. Melton served as a popular pre and postgame analyst for White Sox broadcasts for over two decades after his on-field action came to a close.

“Bill Melton enjoyed two tremendous careers with the White Sox,” said White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf in a statement from the team. “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.

“Photos of Bill wearing his home run crown and others of him posing with ballpark organist Nancy Faust still generate smiles to this day. 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. 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."

Anyone who met Melton and had a chance to talk with him for even a short time became his friend. He had that sort of engaging and endearing personality. Melton made his Major League debut at 22 with the White Sox on May 4, 1968, going 1-for-2 with an RBI against the Yankees. He had a career slash line of .253/.337/.419 with 162 doubles, nine triples, 591 RBIs and 496 runs scored to go with his long ball prowess in 1,144 career games with the White Sox (1968-75), the California Angels (1976) and Cleveland (1977).

The 154 home runs Melton hit with the White Sox rank him ninth in franchise history. Melton recorded consecutive 33-homer seasons in 1970-71, becoming the first White Sox player to hit 30-plus home runs in a single season in 1970 and the first White Sox player to lead the AL in homers in ‘71. He was the franchise's career home run leader until being passed by Hall of Famer Harold Baines in 1987.

Melton also played alongside Dick Allen, the AL Most Valuable Player with the White Sox in 1972 who is on the Hall of Fame’s Classic Baseball Era ballot, with electees to be announced Sunday night at the Winter Meetings in Dallas. After Allen passed away in 2020, Melton told a group of reporters how the first baseman brought about renewed interest on the South Side.

“It was just to watch him play,” said Melton during that interview four years ago. “We were a good ballclub, Bucky Dent, Jorge Orta up the middle, Pat Kelly, Carlos May and myself. But it was one of those things where the fans were kind of down in the dumps. Things were bad, the economy was bad. And I think Dick brought a flavor to the White Sox, and the flavor was this: national attention.

“We would go to New York and we would finally get writers. Not as much as today, but we were starting to draw attention, magazine covers. So we got magazine covers because Dick Allen was on the team. That’s how much he meant. He really did and he meant that much to [Rich] Gossage, [Terry] Forster, Bucky Dent, Carlos, all of us. We loved playing with him. We really enjoyed it every night.”

Melton returned to Chicago in 1992 as a team ambassador and part-time scout. He worked with basketball Hall of Famer Michael Jordan following Jordan’s first retirement from the National Basketball Association in 1993, serving as one of his hitting instructors.

In 1998, Melton joined the White Sox television broadcast team as an analyst for the pregame and postgame shows on WGN. He would continue in this role with Comcast SportsNet and NBC Sports Chicago until his retirement in 2020. Melton also served as head of the team's alumni relations beginning in the early 2000s. He is survived by his wife Tess, son Billy, daughter Jennifer, a grandson and many extended family members.