1. 19 of 20 in 1961
(.950)
In ninth place (in the new 10-team American League) at 19-33 on June 11, the Sox made an eight-man deal with the A’s (landing 3B Andy Carey and pitchers Ray Herbert and Don Larsen) and won seven straight, lost one and then reeled off 12 more victories. The climax was a sweep of a June 27 twi-nighter at first-place Detroit, which left the Sox in fourth–where they finished.
2. 20 of 22 in 1951
(.909)
Led by newcomer Minnie Minoso, the Sox won 14 straight (11 on the road) from May 15 through May 30, lost to the A’s and Red Sox at home before winning six more in a row. Once 12-9, the original “Go-Go Sox” woke up June 8 at 32-11, 4 1/2 games up on the world-champion Yankees. Sox finished fourth, 81-73.
3. 18 of 20 in 1983
(.900)
The AL West’s runaway leaders were taking no chances–or prisoners. They swept a seven-game homestand, split two at Minnesota, then came home and swept a weekend series with Seattle, including the clincher Sept. 17.
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4. 17 of 19 in 1978
(.895)
A club going nowhere (12-28 on May 27) inexplicably caught fire, winning seven straight and five in a row twice. Pitchers Ken Kravec (4-0 in this stretch), Francisco Barrios (4-1 with two shutouts) and Steve Stone (3-0 with one) were masterful. But then the Sox lost seven of eight, manager Bob Lemon was fired and the club finished 71-90.
5. 17 of 19 in 2000
(.895)
The AL Central champs-to-be really won the title with this May 30-June 19 surge, in which they were 8-1 in one-run games. The highlight was a seven-game sweep of a trip to Cleveland and New York, with the Sox whipping the Yankees 12-3, 3-1, 10-9 and 17-4. Jose Valentin capped a nine-run first in the finale with a grand slam off Orlando Hernandez. The Sox were 8 1/2 ahead of the second-place Indians.