On Thursday, the Chicago White Sox kicked off their 2025 season, eager to leave behind the struggles of 2024. However, during the pregame coverage on Chicago Sports Network, the familiar studio duo of Chuck Garfien and Ozzie Guillén couldn’t help but reflect on the legacy of Bill Melton.
Melton, who passed away this past December at the age of 79, devoted the first eight years of his ten-season MLB career to the White Sox and earned a spot on the American League All-Star team in 1971. Later, he returned to the organization as a TV analyst for WGN in 1995, continuing with NBC Sports Chicago until his retirement in 2020.
As the new season began, Chuck Garfien took a moment just before the first pitch to honor his longtime colleague. “We lost him back in December,” Garfien said of Melton. “1971 home run champion, I did pregame and postgame shows with him for over a decade. There’s a photo with Mayor Daley back in the day. Special personality, that booming voice. He felt like he had two families: his real family, the Meltons, and his other family, the White Sox. All of us who worked with him and all of you watching have spent many Opening Days with Bill Melton. I cannot believe he’s not with us right now. He meant so much to me, and I just wanted to take a moment to express the loss that I’m feeling and a lot of White Sox fans are feeling right now.”
Ozzie Guillén shared his fond memories, noting Melton’s ever-present smile. “I always had a great time with him,” said Guillén. “I never saw him without a smile. You always see him smiling. I wish I could say on-air what I always called him, but I can’t; I would lose my job. He was the best man to have around. I remember him coming down to talk to Robin Ventura. He was a great home run hitter and third baseman but very humble and low-key. You’d need water after sitting with him for ten minutes because he was so funny. The last time we saw him at the studio, everything was great, but getting the news was tough for us.”
.@ChuckGarfien remembers his dear friend and colleague Bill Melton ahead of Opening Day on White Sox Countdown Live. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/e0f0FuICOW
— White Sox on CHSN (@CHSN_WhiteSox) March 27, 2025
Melton’s profound impact on both Garfien and Guillén is evident, affecting them both professionally and personally. This being the first Opening Day without Melton makes their emotions understandable. On a brighter note, the White Sox honored his memory with a strong performance against the Los Angeles Angels, securing an 8-1 victory to kick off their season on a positive note.
