Tragic Loss in Chicago: Sports Icon Passes Away
Bill Melton, a sports icon in Chicago passed away at 79 years old in a tragic loss.
MLB fans are mourning the former Chicago White Sox player and broadcaster Bill Melton after he sadly passed away after a battle with illness on Thursday.
Melton played eight of his ten MLB seasons with the White Sox, between 1968 and 1975, and two more with the California Angels and Cleveland Indians.
In his career, Melton hit .253, with 591 RBIs and 160 home runs. He held the franchise record for 154 home runs in a season until 1987 when Harold Baines broke it.
In 1992, he went back to Chicago to become a team scout and ambassador, notably being remembered for his involvement as a hitting coach in Michael Jordan's attempt at pro baseball.
In 1998, he became a broadcaster until his retirement in 2020.
The White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf released the following statement on his passing:
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."
The Chicago Sports Network, the ownership group of Reisendorf and
Danny Wirtz, the Chicago Blackhawks owner, also shared a heartfelt post:
We extend our deepest condolences to his friends and family, as well as the entire Chicago sports community for this terrible loss.
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Have you ever seen Bill Melton in action? | ||
| Yes | 21 | 12.3 % |
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