For the second time in his life, Bill Mazeroski is walking on air.

The first time came 41 years ago when he hit a home run in the bottom of the ninth inning of Game Seven to give the Pittsburgh Pirates the 1960 World Series championship over the New York Yankees.

The second time came Tuesday.

After missing election to the National Baseball Hall of Fame by a single vote from the Veterans Committee last year, Mazeroski got just the amount of votes needed Tuesday, 11, to win election.

Mazeroski, along with Negro Leagues star Hilton Smith, will join Baseball Writers Association of America selections Dave Winfield and Kirby Puckett for the annual Induction Ceremony in Cooperstown Aug. 5.

"When I got the news today, I called my wife and she probably thought it was a prank phone call because for the first five minutes or so I couldn't even talk," said Mazerokski, a former defensive wizard from his second base spot, where he played 17 seasons for the Pirates. "When I could finally talk, I just said 'We made it.' Then nothing was said again for about anohter five minutes."

Mazeroski is nothing new to overwhelming, dramatic moments, having hit one of the most famous home runs in World Series history. In a conference call Tuesday afternoon, he recounted what he remembered of that at bat.

"I didn't even realize I was leading off when we came off the field for the bottom of the ninth, but someone yelled 'Hey, Maz, you're up," he recalled.

"I just walked to the plate thinking 'Hit it hard, you gotta hit it hard somewhere. The first pitch was high, and the catcher yelled out to (Ralph) Terry 'Bring it down a little. Well, the second pitch was down some, but still belt high and I knew I hit it good enough to get over Yogi Berra's head in left."

"I was running hard because I was thinking triple, but then I saw the umpire doing the signal for a home run, and I don't think my feet touched the ground again from second base to home."

Although it was 41 years ago, Mazeroski said people still refer to him as 'the guy who hit that home run."

"People always used to come up to me and tell me I should be in the Hall of Fame, and now it's a big relief," he said. "When I missed by one vote last year it was certainly disappointing. I never counted on being in the Hall of Fame or even thougbt about it, but it's a nice group to be in."

A group of Little league players from Mazeroski's hometown of Hempfield, Pa. started the "Maz 2001" Club after Mazeroski missed by a single vote last year.

The group traveled to Cooperstown last summer and presented the Hall's Jeff Idelson with letters of support for Mazeroski, which were forwarded to the 15 members of the Veterans Committee.

Gary Harvat, who managed the Little League team and was instrumental in starting the "Maz 2001" Club, was ecstatic Tuesday.

"I was yelling in the halls when I heard the news on the radio," Harvat said. "I don't know for sure our efforts helped, but I think they did. I think it's a good lesson to these boys that you can help make a difference."

Mazeroski, a seven-time All-Star, is known as one of the finest defensive second baseman in the history of the game, won eight Gold Gloves and was especially adept at turning the double play. He took part in a record 1,706 double plays at second base, and many consider him the finest fielder at the position in baseball history. However, his lifetime average was only .260.

"I had over 2,000 hits, and I think I was a pretty good clutch hitter," Mazeroski said. "I'm glad the Hall of Fame recognizes defense as well as offense because saving a run is just as important as driving in a run."

Hilton Smith, also elected Tuesday, was a star pitcher for the Kansas City Monarchs in the 1930s and 40s, winning 20 or more games 12 years in a row. In 1941, he went 25-1 and led the league in victories, shutouts and saves.

The Veterans Committee consists of 15 members, including five Hall of Fame players, five former executives and five former writers and broadcasters.

The Vets can pick up to four new Hall of Famers, one from each of four categories: former major leaguers, Negro leaguers, 19th century players and personnel plus a composite of managers, umpires, executives and Negro leaguers. Like the BBWAA election, a candidate must get 75 percent of the vote to gain admittance to the Hall of Fame.

Also honored at the induction ceremony will be the 2001 J.G. Taylor Spink Award winner Ross Newhan and the 2001 recipient of the Ford C. Frick Award.

The 55th annual Hall of Fame Game will take place at the 9,800-seat Doubleday Field on Aug. 6. The Brewers will be make their second trip and first in 25 years since a 9-3 victory over the New York Mets on Aug. 9, 1976. The Marlins will make their Cooperstown debut. Game time is 2 p.m.