Bill Melton Was the First White Sox Player to Lead AL in Homeruns

Former MLB player Bill Melton, who spent the bulk of his 10-year MLB career with the Chicago White Sox, passed away today following a brief illness. He was 79. 

A native of Mississippi, Melton grew up in San Diego and signed with the Chisox in 1964. Originally an outfielder, he converted to third base while still toiling in the minor leagues in 1967. Melton would make his MLB debut with the White Sox in May 1968. He would become the team's regular third baseman the following season leading the team with 23 HR and 87 RBI.

Prior to the 2024, the worst team the Chisox fielded was in 1970 when they lost 106 games. But Melton was the team's lone bright spot blasting 33 HR with 96 RBI. In fact, Melton became the first player in franchise history to hit 30 or more HR in a season. 

Melton would hit 33 HR again in 1971 earning his lone AL All-Star Game selection. This time it was good enough to lead the AL just edging out future Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson and Detroit Tigers slugger Norm Cash. It was the first time a White Sox player would ever lead the AL in HR. Only one other White Sox player has done so with Dick Allen doing it the following season en route to an AL MVP and again in 1974.

Unfortunately, Melton would injure his back catching his son after he fell off their garage roof limiting him to 57 games. Melton did have some productive seasons between 1973 and 1975 but would never have another 30 HR season. Prior to the 1976 season, the Chisox traded Melton to the California Angels in a four-player deal in which the White Sox received first baseman Jim Spencer. Melton would only hit 6 HR in 118 games for the Halos. He finished his MLB career with the Cleveland Indians in 1977. In 1144 games, Melton collected 1,004 hits for a lifetime batting average of .253 with 160 HR and 591 RBI. Of his 160 HR, 154 were hit in a Chisox uniform which is still good enough for 9th in team history. White Sox fans of a certain generation will always remember him as Beltin' Bill.

Nearly a quarter century after playing his last game in a White Sox uniform, Melton would rejoin the team as a pre-game and post-game show analyst in 1998 and remain in that role until retiring in 2020. R.I.P.