Meant to be

View a photo gallery of Ron Santo's career

View a press release about Santo's election

View a transcript of the announcement press conference

View a transcript of the conference call with Santo's widow Vicki

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. – Ron Santo loved the game of baseball. And his widow, Vicki, believes he would have celebrated his induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame the way he celebrated home runs and wins.

"I can see him there sitting on the couch, where we have sat so many times before, just pumping his fist and saying, 'Yes, yes!', with absolute elation" she said.

Santo was the lone candidate among a ballot of 10 men, whose greatest contributions were realized between 1947 and 1972, to receive the 12 votes necessary to earn 75 percent and election to the Hall of Fame by the Golden Era Committee. Santo received 15 votes from the 16-member electorate and will be enshrined into the Baseball Hall of Fame on July 22nd in Cooperstown.

"The numbers of are there," said Committee member and Hall of Famer Billy Williams. "Everybody saw the numbers, the home runs, the Gold Gloves. And I think everyone looked at it with a different view saying, 'This guy should be in the Hall of Fame.'"

Santo died on December 3, 2010, but his wife believes he is celebrating today.

"I am sure he is smiling down on this day," she said. "I am a believer in what's meant to be. I believe he was meant to be in the Hall, unfortunately it couldn't be during his lifetime. But I think the message is to never give up. This was always his dream."

Santo becomes the 12th major league third baseman to be elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame, the first elected at the position since Wade Boggs in 2005. Including three selections from the Negro leagues, there are now 15 third basemen in the Hall of Fame. In 15 major league seasons, Santo compiled a .277 lifetime batting average, with 2,254 hits in 2,243 games, while totaling 1,331 runs batted in and 365 doubles.

"We dared to dream this," said Vicki Santo. "It has always been so important to Ron and it has been a long time coming. I am thrilled for Ron, it is such an honor for him. It was so important to Ron's fans in Chicago."

Santo played for 14 seasons with the Chicago Cubs and one with the Chicago White Sox and was a nine-time All-Star. He hit 342 career home runs and won five Rawlings Gold Glove Awards for his defense at third base. He was honored by the Cubs Walk of Fame, becoming a member of the inaugural Class of 1992 and was selected to the club's all-century team in 1999. He was also a Cubs broadcaster for 21 years.

"He played with heart and broadcast with that same enthusiasm," said Vicki. "And he lived his life that way."

"[During the voting process], some people brought out more than the numbers of Ron Santo," said Williams. "And talked about what he did for the community."

Santo had diabetes and worked with the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, hosting a walk-a-thon to raise money and serving on its board of directors.

"Ron accepted his disease. He used his adversity to inspire others," said Vicki. "This (his election) will continue his legacy for his heart – that he played with and broadcast with and did all the work for juvenile diabetes. It will carry his legacy forward."

Samantha Carr is the manager of web and digital media for the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum