FINAL – Milestones To Look Forward To During The 2011 Major League Baseball Season
Wow, what a season. Tons of surprises and tons of disappointments too…
Let’s get right into it. These are the baseball milestones I was most looking forward to from the 2011 baseball season.
Here is how that panned out…
Derek Jeter needs 74 hits to reach the magical number of 3,000 for his career.
Jeter’s season ended with 3,088 career hits. He now rests at 20th on the all-time list. If he has another solid campaign in 2012, he could get all the way up to somewhere between 11-13.

Jim Thome needs 11 home runs to join the 600 HR club.
Thome has 604 career home runs, ranking him at 8 on the all-time list. 6 more homers and he moves to number 7.

Mariano Rivera needs 41 saves to become just the second pitcher to reach 600.
Mo finished the season with 603 career saves, and 1st place on the All-time list. It is very possible that he sees number 650 next year if health stays on his side!!

If Ichiro collects 200 or more hits, he has 11 200-hit seasons on his resume – a MLB record!!!
Ichiro finished the season with 184 hits and a .310 batting average. And while that is not the kind of production we have become used to from Ichiro, it is still a very solid season. Streak Busted!

If Dan Uggla can amass 30 or more home runs with the Braves, he will continue his record-setting as the game’s greatest slugging second baseman.
Uggla kept the streak alive by belting 35 home runs, a career high. His streak is now extended to five straight seasons. He has a very solid 30+ game hitting streak to thank, for sure.

Mark Teixeira needs just 25 blasts to reach number 300 of his career.
Tex finished the season with 37 home runs and 312 career blasts. At just 31 years of age, the sky is the limit for this very talented slugger.

Can Albert Pujols hit 30+ home runs and drive in 100+ RBI for the 11th straight season and build on baseball history?
Mission failed. 37 home runs and 98 RBI leaves Pujols 2 RBI short of extending his record. Kind of sucks – hopefully he can stay healthy in 2012, wherever he is playing…

Adam Dunn needs 46 home runs to reach 400. Can his new home in Chicago become his latest launching pad?
Dunn connected for just 11 home runs in 2011. He has 365 for his career, and while 400 is still very likely the question is what season will it occur in 2012 or 2015?

Alex Rodriguez is preparing to hit 30+ home runs and 100+ RBI for the 14th consecutive season and 15th overall. Can he do it again???
A-Rod managed to reach just 16 and 62 this year, an injury plagued one. Here’s to hoping that he can get back on track in 2012!!

The 2011 baseball season was fantastic!!! It was a thrill to watch these milestones, and some other unexpected ones unfold.
I cannot wait for next season to start!!!!