Bill Melton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bill Melton |
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Melton in 1970
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| Third baseman | |||
| Born: July 7, 1945 Gulfport, Mississippi, U.S. |
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| Died: December 5, 2024 (aged 79) Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| May 4, 1968, for the Chicago White Sox | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| August 30, 1977, for the Cleveland Indians | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .253 | ||
| Home runs | 160 | ||
| Runs batted in | 591 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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William Edwin Melton (born July 7, 1945 – died December 5, 2024) was a famous American baseball player. People called him "Beltin' Bill" because he hit the ball so hard! He played as a third baseman in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1968 to 1977.
Melton is best known for his time with the Chicago White Sox. In 1971, he was the top home run hitter in the American League. He was also chosen to play in the All-Star Game that year. After his playing career, he became a sports commentator for White Sox games.
Contents
Bill Melton's Baseball Journey
Starting in the Minor Leagues
Bill Melton began his baseball journey right after high school in 1964. He signed with the White Sox and started in their minor league teams. As he played, he became known for two main things. He had a very powerful bat, hitting lots of home runs. But he also had some trouble with his fielding, which means catching and throwing the ball.
Playing for the Chicago White Sox
Melton made his big league debut on May 4, 1968. He quickly became a key player for the White Sox at third base. In 1969, he led the team with 23 home runs. The next year, 1970, he hit even more, with 33 home runs.
His best season was in 1971. He hit 33 home runs again, which was the most in the entire American League! This was a big deal because he was the first White Sox player ever to lead the league in home runs. Because of his great playing, he was picked for the All-Star team.
Dealing with Injuries
In 1972, Melton had a serious back injury. This made it harder for him to hit with the same power. He still played, but he didn't hit as many home runs as before. Fans and even some commentators sometimes criticized his fielding. He often made many errors at third base.
Moving to Other Teams
In 1975, the White Sox traded Melton to the California Angels. He played for the Angels in 1976. Then, in 1977, he was traded again to the Cleveland Indians. After playing only 50 games for the Indians, he decided to retire from baseball.
Life After Baseball
After he stopped playing baseball, Bill Melton worked in a few different jobs. He even worked with his father making skateboard wheels! Later, he became a real estate agent.
In 1992, he returned to the White Sox organization. He worked in community relations, helping the team connect with fans. From 1998, he became a TV analyst, talking about White Sox games before and after they were played.
For a long time, Bill Melton held the record for the most home runs in White Sox history. Other great players like Harold Baines, Carlton Fisk, and Frank Thomas later passed his record. Today, he is still one of the top home run hitters in White Sox history.
Bill Melton passed away on December 5, 2024, at the age of 79.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball annual home run leaders
