Up for auction the "Chicago White Sox" Bill Melton Hand Signed 3X5 Card. This item is certified authentic by Signature Auctions and comes with
their Letter of Authenticity.
ES-1591B
William Edwin Melton (born
July 7, 1945), nicknamed "Beltin' Bill" or "Beltin'
Melton", is an American former professional baseball player and current television sports commentator. He
played as a third baseman in Major League Baseball from 1968 through 1977 for the Chicago White Sox, California Angels and Cleveland Indians. He is now a commentator for NBC Sports Chicago White
Sox broadcasts. Melton was signed as a minor league free agent directly out of
high school prior to the 1964 season and was assigned to the White Sox rookie
league Sarasota White Sox. After
spending 1965 back at Sarasota, this time with the A-League Sarasota Sun Sox, Melton made steady progress through the
White Sox system, playing for the A-League Fox Cities Foxes, AA Evansville White Sox, and
AAA Hawaii Islanders (and Syracuse Chiefs while on loan to the Yankees
organization). At each level, he displayed the two characteristics that he
would be known for throughout his playing career: a powerful bat and questionable
fielding. Melton
made his major league debut on May 4, 1968, and was a mainstay at third for the
White Sox for the next seven years. After leading the Sox in home runs in 1969 with 23, Melton came into his own in
1970, hitting 33 home runs and again leading the team. In 1971, Melton had
arguably his best season as he made the all-star team and led the American League with 33 home runs – the first time a
White Sox player had led the league in home runs. Melton's production
declined in 1972 after he missed most of the season with two herniated discs
resulting from trying to break his son's fall from their garage roof.[3] The injury sapped his power such
that he would not again hit more than 21 home runs in a year. Before his back
problems, Melton was a popular player, but when his play began to suffer due to
his back injury, he became the target of fans and media. Melton especially drew
the ire of White Sox broadcaster Harry Caray, who often railed against Beltin'
Bill for his fielding problems. Never good with the glove, finishing
either third or fourth in the league for errors by a third baseman every year
except his rookie and injury-shortened 1972 seasons, Melton led the league with
24 errors in 1974 and 26 in 1975. Following the 1975 season, Melton was traded
to the Angels along with pitcher Steve Dunning for outfielder Morris Nettles and first baseman Jim Spencer, but his production continued to decrease as he
hit .208 with 6 home runs in 118 games and he clashed with manager Dick Williams. Following the 1976 season, he was traded
again, this time to the Indians for a player to be named later (ultimately
relief pitcher Stan Perzanowski) and
cash. After appearing in only 50 games for the Indians in 1977, hitting
only .241 with no home runs, he retired following the season.