DALLAS -- Ron Santo is clicking his heels in heaven.

Santo, the enthusiastic, popular and very resilient former Cubs third baseman, was elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame on Monday by the Golden Era Committee. Santo, who died one year ago this month, was one of the candidates on a ballot representing the era of the sport from 1947-72. His competition included former players Gil Hodges, Ken Boyer, Minnie Minoso, Tony Oliva, Jim Kaat, Allie Reynolds and Luis Tiant, and executives Charlie Finley and Buzzie Bavasi.

Santo failed to make the Hall of Fame in his 15 years of eligibility on the Baseball Writers' Association of America ballot and also in numerous forms of the Veterans Committee prior to Monday. He missed by nine votes in a 2008 ballot of a post-1943 committee, and his highest vote total on the BBWAA ballot was 43.1 percent in 1998.

Hall of Famer Billy Williams, Santo's former teammate, was on the 16-member Golden Era Committee, and campaigned for the third baseman. Williams was joined on the committee by Hank Aaron, Al Kaline, Ralph Kiner, Tommy Lasorda, Juan Marichal, Brooks Robinson, Don Sutton. Major League executives Paul Beeston, Bill DeWitt, Roland Hemond, Gene Michael and Al Rosen, and veteran media members Dick Kaegel, Jack O'Connell and Dave Van Dyck. A 75-percent vote was needed, which, in this instance, would be 12 votes. Santo received 15 of 16 votes cast.

When the Cubs retired Santo's No. 10, he claimed that was his Hall of Fame. Now, he joins Cubs teammates Williams, Ernie Banks and Fergie Jenkins, who are already in Cooperstown.

Santo played 15 seasons from 1960-74, and is one of four players who had 2,000 hits, 300 home runs and 1,300 RBIs in that span, joining Hall of Famers Aaron, Frank Robinson and Williams.

Santo drove in 93-plus runs in eight straight seasons. From 1960-74, his 1,331 RBIs rank fifth. The entire top 10 of RBI leaders during that span was already in the Hall of Fame, and now that list is complete.

A nine-time All-Star, Santo was one of only two third basemen to have more than 300 home runs and five Gold Glove Awards. The other, Mike Schmidt, was elected to Cooperstown in his first year of eligibility with 96.5 percent of the vote.

Among Hall of Fame third basemen, Santo ranks third in home runs, fourth in walks, fifth in RBIs and sixth in hits.

In his 21 seasons on WGN Radio, Santo was a passionate voice of the fans. He was a tireless fighter, survivor and champion for those who lived with diabetes. Though he had diabetes, Santo never once went on the disabled list. He helped raise more than $60 million for juvenile diabetes research during his lifetime.

Santo, who died Dec. 3, 2010, is survived by his wife, Vicki, and their four children, Ron Jr., Jeff, Linda and Kelly.