Jeff Katz wants everyone to know that Cooperstown will be OK.

The mayor of the small village in upstate New York that houses the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum says that not having a living inductee this summer, for the first time since 1965, won't put his town's stores out of business.

"The idea that this will seriously hurt our town is just not true," Katz said.

The Baseball Writers of America, for only the second time in 40 years, failed to give more than the required 75 percent of the vote to any player. Rich Pilling/MLB Photos via Getty Images

Katz, who has held the top political office in the town of about 1,850 people since last year, said big induction weekends -- like the summer of 2007 that brought a record 75,000 strong to see Cal Ripken Jr. and Tony Gwynn -- are a nice boost, but the city doesn't run its entire budget on that one weekend.

Earlier this month, for only the second time in the last 40 years, the Baseball Writers' Association of America failed to give more than the required 75 percent of the vote to any eligible player.

Even more significant to the city's coffers?

Youth baseball leagues that are exploding in the area.

As parents encourage their children to specialize in one sport instead of play a bunch of sports, in the hopes of giving them a better chance to excel, the traveling baseball business has rapidly expanded.

And camps around Cooperstown, because of its history, have become a natural magnet.