Bill Melton, former White Sox 3B, dies at age 79

The White Sox family mourns the loss of former third baseman Bill Melton, who died Thursday in Phoenix after a short illness. He was 79.

Melton played with the Sox from 1968 to 1975, with his peak years being 1970 and 1971. He blasted 33 home runs in each of those seasons, with that total leading the league in 1971. That was also the year when Melton made his only All-Star appearance.

During his tenure on the South Side, he batted .258/.340/.432 with 154 home runs, 134 doubles and 535 RBIs. That total of 154 home runs ranks ninth in team history. 

In fact, Melton was the franchise's all-tiime home run leader when he left the team in 1975, and that record stood until Harold Baines passed him in 1987.

I never saw Melton play with the Sox, as I was born in 1976. But for my generation, we remember "Beltin' Bill" for his work as a TV commentator on pre- and postgame shows over a period of two decades. He worked for WGN, Comcast SportsNet and NBC Sports Chicago from 1998 until his retirement in 2020.

Melton was funny, relatable and candid, and his passion for the Sox and the game of baseball was always evident. I'll remember Melton for being a truth-teller on the air. He praised the Sox when they played well, and when the team was terrible, he would indicate that they were terrible.

That seems like an obvious thing to do, but we've seen plenty of people come through the White Sox universe who are full of it. Melton was not full of it. He was honest, and Sox fans appreciate that. 

Our sympathies go out to Melton's wife and his family and friends. He will be remembered fondly.

'Bo knows ambassadorship'

Is "ambassadorship" even a word? I'm not sure it is, but former two-sport star Bo Jackson returned to the White Sox as a team ambassador on Wednesday.

Jackson will serve as a team representative in the community and make appearances on behalf of the organization. Other White Sox ambassadors include former players Frank Thomas, Carlton Fisk, Minnie Minoso, Ron Kittle, Bill Melton and Carlos May.

Jackson played for the Sox from 1991-93 and remains a resident of the Chicago area. His two most memorable moments came in 1993, when he hit a home run in his first at-bat after returning from hip-replacement surgery. Later that season, his three-run homer against the Seattle Mariners on Sept. 27 clinched the 1993 American League West championship for the Sox.

"Bo is an American sports legend, who always will hold a special place in hearts of White Sox fans," White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf said in a statement. "His heroic return from what seemed to be a catastrophic career-ending injury helped us win a division title in 1993, and demonstrated to the sports world an unrivaled will and determination to be the best. It is great to again welcome Bo Jackson as a member of the White Sox."

Garza to sign with Brewers

Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com reports the Milwaukee Brewers have agreed to a four-year, $52 million deal with former Cubs right-hander Matt Garza.

Now that Masahiro Tanaka is off the market, we can expect some of the other free-agent starting pitchers to sign. The Brewers were not a player for Tanaka, so their pursuit of Garza likely was unrelated. Nevertheless, Milwaukee might have been compelled to move now on a deal for Garza, knowing the remaining free-agent pitchers might have more suitors now that Tanaka has signed with the New York Yankees.

Other notable remaining free-agent starters include Ubaldo Jimenez, Ervin Santana and Bronson Arroyo.