The couple spent almost all morning looking at exhibits as aids and Secret Service agents assigned to the Clintons waited outside in Cooper Park near the Hall's library entrance.

Waiting with them was Cooperstown Police Department officer R. Eric Ashley, who drew extra duty to help with security for the visit. The officer, who spends much of his time writing parking tickets, said it was "exciting" to meet the former president and senator and that he had his picture taken shaking hands with Mr. Clinton.

By the time the Clintons finished their tour of the hall and visited the gift shop where they made numerous purchases, a crowd had gathered in Cooper Park. The pair split up as the senator talked very briefly with local reporters and her husband worked the crowd, shaking hands and having his picture taken.

Sen. Clinton, on a swing through central New York, said their time in Cooperstown was strictly personal, family time. "He's a big fan. He has been ever since he was a little boy," she said of her husband.

She said she enjoyed coming upstate even more than when she announced her campaign for office at Pindars Corners and was "delighted" that last-minute negotiations were successful and the baseball strike had been averted.

Sen. Clinton said that upstate has so much to offer and so many attractions that the tourism industry is "one of the best bets for upstate.

"Every part of upstate New York has something to offer," she said. "I am proud of what we have in upstate."

Reporters turned their attention to President Clinton, who spoke glowingly of his visit to the Hall of Fame.

"You made my day, you don't know how much this meant to me," he said to Hall of Fame President Dale Petroskey and Board Chairman Jane Forbes Clark, who accompanied the Clintons on their tour.

Clark said the visit was "interesting - a fun morning."

Petrokey said it was an exciting morning and that President Clinton knew a lot about baseball and was particularly interested in players from Arkansas.

The Clintons walked from Cooper Park to the lawn of the library building where they briefly strolled through the Cooperstown Art Association's "Art on the Lawn." They had hoped to be able to walk down Main Street and enjoy some private time, but it was obvious that they were attracting too much attention for that.

Kevin Klix, store manager at Mickey's Place and clerk Bob Tricomi each took two baseballs and were able to get President Clinton to autograph them. Klix said he approached the president, shook his hand and asked him to sign two balls - one for each of store owner Vinnie Russo's children. Tricomi also was able to get the former chief executive to autograph two balls - one for his collection and one for Klix.

Both men remarked that the former President was very approachable and personable.

"I finally got to see a president and shake his hand," said Klix, who voted for President Clinton. "When are you going to get an opportunity like that?"

He said he had been asked if he wanted to sell one of the balls, but declined. Baseballs autographed by presidents start at $200 and go up. He said he has seen balls signed by President Clinton priced between $250 and $500.

Between autographs and posing for pictures, Nicholas Hyman, an enterprising young merchant from two doors down Fair Street approached the senator and asked if she would like to purchase some lemonade from the stand he and his sisters were operating. She walked with him to the home of his grandparents Dr. Gerald and Ann Evans where Eloise and Kate Hyman charged Senator Clinton 25 cents for a glass of lemonade which she drank as she talked briefly with the young businesspeople before she and Secret Service agents climbed into a van and drove off ending their visit to the village.