Chicago White Sox All-Star third baseman and broadcaster Bill Melton died Thursday in Phoenix after a brief illness. He was 79.
"Beltin' Bill" led the American League with 33 home runs in 1971 and held the club's career record until 1987 with his 154 homers from 1968 to 1975.
After one season each with the Angels and Cleveland, Melton retired with a .253 batting average, 160 home runs and 591 RBIs in 1,144 games.
Melton became a White Sox television analyst with WGN in 1998. He joined Comcast SportsNet Chicago in 2005 in a similar role and continued broadcasting until his retirement in 2020.