I fondly remember baseball as the only thing I ever wanted to do in my life. I collected baseball cards, read every baseball book available, and knew every stat from every team in major league baseball.

I was a baseball junkie; I watched the Cubs on WGN and listened to the Tiger’s and Brewer’s on the radio.

I played little league, Babe Ruth, and American Legion baseball.

I lived at the baseball field. If I was not playing baseball, I was talking about it. I lived for the game of baseball.

So now after knowing my great love for baseball, I will print my predictions for this year’s baseball season.

American League:

East

1. New York

2. Baltimore

3. Boston

4. Toronto

5. Tampa Bay

West

1. LA

2. Oakland

3. Seattle

4. Texas

Central

1. Minnesota

2. Cleveland

3. Detroit

4. Chicago

5. Kansas City

Wild card: Oakland

American League Champion: Minnesota Twins

Cy Young: Randy Johnson &045;

N.Y.

MVP: Shannon Stewart &045; Twins

National league:

East

1. Atlanta

2. New York

3. Philadelphia

4. Florida

5. Washington

West

1.San Diego

2.San Francisco

3.Los Angeles

4.Arizona

5.Colorado

Central

1.St. Louis

2.Chicago

3.Cincinatti

4.Houston

5.Pittsburgh

6. Milwaukee

Wild card: Chicago

National League Champion: St. Louis

Cy Young: Tim Hudson Atlanta

MVP: Albert Pujols St.Louis

World Series: Twins in seven over Cardinals

MVP: Joe Nathan

Remember, you read it here first: The Twins will be the world champs.

Now, check back with me in October and see how my picks compared with your own.

Baseball fever &045; catch it.

(Scott Schmeltzer is publisher of the Tribune. His column runs Monday.)