CHICAGO – Bill Melton, who played 10 seasons in the major leagues, including eight with the Chicago White Sox, and served as a popular pre and postgame analyst for White Sox telecasts for over two decades, passed away early this morning in Phoenix after a brief illness. Melton was 79 years old.

“Bill Melton enjoyed two tremendous careers with the White Sox,” said White Sox Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf. “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."

Melton, nicknamed Beltin’ Bill, made his major-league debut with the White Sox in May 1968 at 22 years old. He batted .253/.337/.419 (1,004-3,971) with 162 doubles, nine triples, 160 home runs, 591 RBI and 496 runs scored in 1,144 career major-league games over 10 seasons with the White Sox (1968-75), California (1976) and Cleveland (1977).

He hit .258/.340/.432 (901-3,497) with 134 doubles, six triples, 154 homers, 535 RBI and 448 runs scored over 976 games with Chicago from 1968-75, making the American League All-Star team in 1971. 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 Sox player to lead the AL in homers in 1971. Just one of two White Sox players to ever lead the AL in homers during a single season, Melton was the franchise's career home run leader until being passed by Hall of Famer Harold Baines in 1987. During his eight-year run with Chicago, Melton ranked 11th among the AL leaders in homers and RBI. His 154 home runs currently rank ninth on the club’s all-time list.

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 pre-game 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.

Melton, is survived by his wife, Tess, son, Billy, daughter, Jennifer, a grandson and many extended family members.