CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- During my tenure as president of Major League Baseball's American League (1994-2000), I encountered critics who claimed that baseball was doomed, near death. "Those people have gone away," Commissioner Bud Selig told me in a recent conversation about the state of the game. The reasons for their departure are compelling, as Selig freely predicts:

Revenues for MLB will easily top $8 billion in 2013; they reached $7.5 billion in 2012.

Regular season attendance will jump again in 2013, surpassing last season's count of 75 million -- and that milestone will surpass the combined attendance of the National Football League, the National Basketball Association and the National Hockey League.

Values of almost all of the 30 MLB franchises will continue to climb. The New York Yankees are valued at $1.85 billion, tied with the Dallas Cowboys of the NFL.

Fans from coast to coast can expect tight competition in 2013 because of real balance through revenue sharing, resulting in two-thirds of baseball teams still competing as late as Labor Day. And some fans can expect lower ticket prices, too.

The Philadelphia Phillies led the National League in attendance for 2012 (3.6 million) with the Yankees drawing 3.5 million in the American League. Nine clubs drew more than 3 million fans last season, while another 13 eclipsed 2.3 million.

One of Major League Baseball's principal assets for continued growth can be found in the minor leagues where 41 million fans witnessed regular season games in 2012, and a disproportionate number of the attendees were youngsters.

"We play a significant role in introducing the game to future generations," Pat O'Conner, president of Minor League Baseball, told me. "Most families can afford what we offer, and we offer a lot: reasonably priced tickets, special games and giveaways for kids, ballpark food and beverages, and exciting professional baseball. We entertain on and off the field."

He foresees another climb in attendance, perhaps by as much as a million. He also says most ticket prices will remain low and attractive to cash strapped families.

Big-league Commissioner Selig also believes that minor league baseball is "central to the well-being of the game. In truth, we must grow together."

The two baseball heads contend that the minors have done much to reach out to grow the game for Major League Baseball and organized youth leagues across the country.

Virtually all major and minor leagues will be playing in new or recently renovated ballparks with up-to-date amenities in 2013. There are 15 minor leagues with 176 clubs, and with a line of investors who have expressed interest in possible ownership.

In recent years, the globalization of America's pastime has come of age, Selig likes to remind, with growing markets such as Puerto Rico, Mexico, Cuba, the Dominican Republic and Venezuela. Promising players from Latin America, among the first to come to the United States in growing numbers, have met with success -- athletes like Robinson Cano, the Yankee slugger and an ideal ambassador for the increasingly global game. Next came the Japanese, Taiwanese and South Koreans offering MLB potential standouts. The always-talent-seeking Los Angeles Dodgers discovered and signed Hideo Nomo from Japan who met with instant success.

Today, every MLB team has scouts in Asia and the game is seeing promise in China and Australia.

Commissioner Selig acknowledged that the slow pace of baseball remains a problem and needs to be further addressed, a perennial complaint of the fans and especially among the younger generation. Famed managers Tony LaRussa and Joe Torre will work with the commissioner on the nagging matter. MLB will be accelerating efforts in urban America to persuade more youngsters to select baseball as their game of choice.

On a recent flight to New York City, I asked a flight attendant for an extra copy of its magazine, featuring Robinson Cano and the upcoming baseball season. The magazines were gone.

Perhaps that should tell us something, maybe a lot.

Budig served as chancellor or president at three major state universities, including WVU, is a former president of Major League Baseball's American League and is an owner of the Charleston (S.C.) RiverDogs.