The remark was met with surprise by many, including Sports Illustrated, which put the quote in its "This Week's Sign that the Apocalypse is Upon Us" section.

But it appears the quote was right on the mark, at least as far as the youth of Cooperstown are concerned. Obviously, Cooperstown is considered a baseball town because of the National Baseball Hall of Fame. But baseball is apparently not high on the list of things to do for Cooperstown youngsters.

Last year, the Cooperstown Little League's major league fielded just three teams-barely enough to even have a league. Cooperstown used to routinely field as many as eight or nine teams in the older league, but numbers have been steadily declining.

We can just imagine Abner Doubleday turning over in his grave.

But help may be on the way in form of a new Little League field which was completed at the Clark Sports Center last week.

Clark Foundation president Jane Clark said since Cooperstown is the birthplace of baseball, it makes sense to provide a first class setting to play their favorite game.

When Dale Petroskey was hired as the new president of the Hall of Fame a year and a half ago, he said the youth of America "is where it's at" for the future of baseball. The same thought is true locally.

"We've probably lost some of the 10-12 year-olds, but we hope the new field helps us draw some more players into T-ball," said Bruce Brodersen, a member of the Cooperstown Youth Baseball board.

We think the new field is a good first step toward drawing youngsters into playing baseball at an early age. But to really get the Little League program in Cooperstown on strong footing again, parents are going to have to help too. Take your son or daughter to a baseball game, watch a game on television and teach them the rules, go out back and have a catch, go to the park with some friends and play a game.

The Hall of Fame is another great outlet. The Hall plans numerous activities geared toward the younger generation, and the community should take advantage.

It seems almost un-American that youngsters in Cooperstown don't play baseball.

Cooperstown is, after all, a baseball town.