NEW YORK (AP) - A recent look around the Weaver League made this reporter pause the other day, as team after team came through Ground Zero with many a known face, many a veteran, and few up and comers. It gave me thought, so I decided to grab the tickets to every series the Nukes played and make a note of the youth in the league. Frighteningly, there isn't much.

Long Beach Lobsters - Management has always been to keep a smattering of good young players with solid veterans. Probably the best all around age squad, Long Beach can boast an entire starting position under 30 years old and all of them are phenoms - C Brent Thomas (22), 1B Eric Gomez (22), 2B William Upshaw Jr. (29), SS James Cardoza (24), 3B Brad Stewart (25), LF Darious O'Neil (25), CF Willie Mays (28), and RF Donovan Barnett (25). Although the pitching staff averages in the mid-30s of age, the Lobsters shored up their Low Minors staff with the likes of Danny Kowalik (25), Al Reynolds (22), Johnny Hubbel (21), George Fischer (21), and Larry Brower (20). All will mature just in time to flourish with the potent young offense.

Sicily Godfathers - A good young club. With players like 1B Brant Brown (29), P Kevin Millwood (28), P Kerry Wood (28), LF Gus Whippet (28), P Mark Clark (27), P Monte Concepcion (27), CF Edward Sandoval (25), 2B Wayne Hu (24), C Akeli Jackson (24), and RF Ericson Reduta (23), the Godfathers are relatively set for their future. Include a AAA pitching staff with great arms like Tommy Bergen (24) and Joe Riley (20), and a solid Low Minors with CF Mike Richards (25), P Pete Horner (23), and P Jack Whitehurst (23), Sicily has the makings of a dynasty.

Edmonton Orcas - Team Youth. The oldest starting position players are C Dave King and SS Dan Stroud, both 27. The oldest pitcher in the majors is 25. Only 3B Aaron Boone (33), RF Trot Nixon (31), and 1B Daryl Ward (31) are over 30 in the entire franchise. The bats are young, but need much more instruction before they can produce consistently. Pitching is Edmontons strenght. With the likes of Jim Bauers (23), Pete Kommisk (23), Don Brett (21), Bill Goltz (21), and Lee Valdez (21), Edmonton's pitching future is bright. Camped in the Low Minors are more solid pitchers like Charlie Bradford (21), Rube Hall (21), Gus Beattie (20), and Jay Lozado (20).

Bombay Elephants - An impressive youth infused team. 33 year old CF Marcelino Reams is the only starting position player over 30. The pitching isn't in shambles either with 26 year olds Kelvim Escobar and Winfield Jackson already showing great control, as well as 22 year old Hal Ditmar showing flashes of greatness. With a solid Low Minors chock full of good hitting prospects and two solid pitching hopefuls, give credit to the Elephants' front office. The real weakness for Bombay's future is pitching. With only 5 pitchers banked (2 needing seasoning), fans may be in for many double diget ball games.

Motown Miracles - Shockingly, 23 of 25 players have over 10 years of experience in the majors. 14 of them are over 35 years old. However, the Miracles are aware of impending retirements and have a nice group of young players ready in the wings. All but two (pitchers Ed Wright and Tony Conley) players in AAA and Low minors are under the age of 25. Most notably, 2B Jim Tipper (24), 3B Dick Simpson (24), 1B Robb Reuschel (23), and 1B Jim Collins (23) are ready for major league action. Honorable Mentions to pitchers Neil Hunter and Mel Taveras, who are a few years off from starting.

Hong Kong Dragons - Quality youth 28 years or younger include 1b John Gacia, 2B Randy Bambrough, 3B Chadwick Kingman, SS honus Wagner, and LF Carl Willits. The rest of the team has 15 veterans with 10 or more years of experience (all but 1 starting pitcher) and a AAA sporting 10 30 year olds, 7 of whom have 10 plus years in the majors. Low P Jim Koppe (24) is a future star, and both 1B Sonny Andrews (21) and CF Ben Sauver (23) show promise.

Argentina Archers - Although this team has a slew of players in their mid-thirties, they have a nice spread of superstar talent, C Vito Bradley, SS Carlos Guillen, and pitchers Bill Mazurkiewics (28), Sibby Ohl, and Rufe Rollins, who are all 28 and make up the core of this team. With an up and coming players like RF Bruce Jones (27), 1B Mike Pacella (26), 2B Omar Wells (24), C Wedo Sullivan (23), P Williard Alexander (23), P Bandy Weathers (23), and P Eddie Dowell (21) improving steadily, with honorable mention to P Toots Schwarz landed in the recent Amateur Draft, the Archers are half young and will be one of the stronger competitors in the next few years.

Berlin Brewmasters - C Yogi Berra (25), P Frank Callahan (22), and P Victor Cook (24) round out the active players that will have great career numbers for the Brewmasters. With the likes of pithcers Bil Kuczynski, Johnny Ramos, Larry Tyrone, and Andy Wall, along with SS Chico Buttery, 3B Jim Voiselle, and C Harold Ireland tearing up AA and A ball, the rebuilding years will be fun to watch and here sooner than you think. With 1B Tino Martinez (38), 3B Auguste Rodin (37), CF Ernie Young (37), P Bob Crandall (39), P Marud Karwar (39), and Louis Marseille (37) all announcing or thinking about retirement at season's end, losing 6 starters will force management to do something sooner than they plan.

Honolul Volcanos - This franchise has as many old veterans as other Weaver League teams, but also has good potential youth and could be a force in years to come. 25 year old 1B Jake Neel is the most promising young star, but many solid young prospects are improving in the minors. All of the AAA hitting and 1B Mitch McCoy (23) in Low could easily start, and P Del Grey might be a late season call up from AAA as well. With Low pitching potential in Jim Moulder (22) and Ed Zachary (23), to help out pitchers Hurbert Shubert (29), Hiker Bullet (28), Red Callahan (28), Joe Ferris (26), and Gail Simons (23), the Volcanos should be in the hunt for many years to come.

New York Nukes - Only 5 active players have less than 10 years of experience. Of those 5, 3B Alfredo Hernandez (28), LF Tony Montana (28), and RF Josh Homme (28) are the core superstars and will be tremendous to watch for years to come. The pitching is good but racing for retirement with three 37 year olds and six 38 year olds. The best Low Minors prospects include C Donnie Mackiewicz (22), CF Sam Thomas (21), and pitchers Lyodd Papi (23), Cannonba Moncewicz, (22), Bobby Whitaker (22), and Tommy Carmel (20).

Johannesburg Steelmen - Another typical roster with aging veterans (21 of 25 Active Players 30 or over) and bright spots. Although C Con Bordic (25) and LF Jim Ballard (26) still need improvement, the Steelmen have some bats for the future in CF Jake Mills (24), Bobby Tettleton (22), 1B Joe Bell (22), and 3B Hugh Baumann (21). However, pitching prospects abound. Farmer Wrona (24), Al Harding (23), Ben Harnish (23), Raphael Hitchcock (22), and John Shea (22) all have big league pitches and all should have good careers.

Cape Town Convicts - This squad finds itself with a majority of the Weaver League teams. Many folks thirty plus in years, a few nice future stars (1B Brian Cadaret, 1b Bill Perkins, P Scott Kuczek, P John Siebert), and good low prospects (LF Matty Dauss, P Craig Hatfield, P Alan Moran, and P Nick Wessinger). The Convicts will probably fall as key veterans wind up awesome careers and scramble to rebuild, like a majority of the Weaver League teams.

Havana Cigars - Another typical Weaver League team. C Chris Goodwin (27), CF Pavel Chmura (27), SS Alfred Griffin Jr. (25), and CF Kelvin Thomas (23) make up the core youth while the rest of the team sprints toward retirement. Other solid youngsters include 3b Nig Doyle, C Calvin Friberg, 1b Harry Walker, LF Mark Tartabull, and pitchers John Stewart, Daryl Walker, Ted Jay, Micky Mitchell, Gary Evers, and Mike Tipton. Honorable mention to P Bill Wolfe, who has a few years before he's ready.

Rio de Janerio Capybaras - Much like the core teams of the Weaver League, 1B Isaac Wyndorff (27), 2B Carlos A. Hernandez (27), CF Gabby Brumley (27), and P Dutch Leonard (22) are the named superstars on a roster including 19 of the 25 active players over the age of 30. 1B Biff Clarkson (24), P Leon Frey (23), and P Pop Hernandez (21) round out the young talent for the Capybaras. The rest may be good now, but won't be around much longer.

Belfast Bombers - A solid team, but plagued by grey beards. Only SS Ed Santos (28) 2B Eric Perinet (25), RF Edward Dibassi (28), and SP Amando Almanzar (28), will be franchise players for many more years, the rest of the squad pushes 32 or older, including Jeff Femnos at a ripe 40 years old. Hope for the future is packaged in 20 year old pitcher Todd Crosby, and 23 year old catcher Bill East. Unfortunately, these two quality prospects won't be able to round out the pension players lost in the next few seasons. To the Bombers credit, however, with the core they have build around, you may find a few trades, a key free agent, and a good Amateur Draft will keep this team playing and the stands full.

Conzumel Mayans - All but 2 starters (21 year old SS Nestor Eugino and 23 year old LF Kevin Carbone) are 30 years or older. 11 of those are over 35. The Mayans sport 8 players that are 40 years old or older folk between their AAA or Active rosters. But there is hope. Conzumel's future is staked on Eugino and Carbone, along with 1B Joe Scott, 2B Al Abbot, SP Bob Bliss. 20 year old pitcher Gorman Innis will be a force in years to come, but 6 players do not equate a future dynasty.

Cairo Scorpions - 17 of the 25 Active players have 10 or more years of experience. All but 1 AAA player (24 year old P Jack Reis) is over 30, and 3 of them have 16 years of expeirence. Yes, Cairo has a heap of Low Minor players, but only LF Franky Leyritz and 1B Tim Williams have any hope of a major league future.

Chernobyl Mutants - The youngest active player is 29 year old pitcher Mike Johnson, with only 2 years of major league experience. 19 of them have 10 or more years of experience. 17 of them are 35 years or older. Only 2B Bob Kennedy (24) or P Roy Koshorek (23), could crack the squad next year from the Low Minors.

Tokyo Samaurais - 20 of 25 active starters find themselves 30 years or older. 16 of those have put in over 10 years in the majors. Pitchers Lee Verbanic (28), Fred Clarke (28), Bill Chrisley (25), Bill Caraballo (24), and Dean Bohanon (24) will last for a while and pitch solidly for the Samaurais. Offensively, RF Danny Castillo (25), SS Toots Ritche (24), and LF Bill Striker (24) have hopes of producing in the majors. Most of the other minor leaguers are slated for the AAA Hall of Fame.

St. Petersburg Psychos - Only Sridhar Krishnan, 23 year old first baseman, is young enough to have a future on this squad. 23 of the 25 actives push past the 30 year mark and all of them have 10 or more years of experience. P Brad Conners and 1B Roy Miller, both 25 years old, sum up the playable future for the Psychos.

Jamaica Rastafarians - Having 0 hitters under the age of 30, including all minor leagues, might be a future problem. Having only 6 of the 40 man roster under 30, and the youngest of them at 25, might also be a future problem. Of those 6, pitchers Horatio Barnes, Mark Bevil, and Cesar Coleman (all 25), look to have major league stuff. Honorable mention to Low pitcher Slim Davis, a future star.

Amity White Sharks - Ony one of their offensive players is younger than 33 years old, 27 year old James Coleman. Every pitcher on the Major League Roster is 31 years or older. This could be a problem. With only LF Phil Binks (25), and P Clyde Mercedes (30) as the next potential quality call ups from the minors, the Sharks have few options down the road.

Syndey Roos - Pitcher Javier Vasquez (27) represents the sole player under 30 for this team. 10 of those active players are over 35 years old. LF Art Kappel (25), 1B Roy Miller (25), CF Ivey Wera (24), P Randy butler (22), and Bobby Willett (19) are thin prospects to help a team as aged as this.

Los Angeles Riots - 23 year old CF Scott Schaefer is an awesome young player. Hopefully, he can carry the Riots with a solo act in years to come. Probably the oldest team in the Weaver League, Los Angeles sports 39 of 43 players in the franchise 30 years or older, including the minors. 24 of those 39 are 35 or older. Only one other player is under 25 years old, P Bert Amaro (23) in the Low Minors. The future is bleak.