With their record at 28-12 after Tuesday night’s 5-2 victory over Texas, the 2005 White Sox take their place among the top 11 teams in franchise history for fastest starts over the first 40 games.
1. 29-11 record
In 1951, the original Go-Go Sox won 29 of their first 40 and then took three more to make it 32-11–before the world champion Yankees came to town and won three of four in a weekend series June 8-10 that drew 130,720 for three dates (including a record night crowd of 53,940 on June 8).
The Sox finished 81-73 and in fourth place despite their terrific getaway, which was sparked by the offense of Minnie Minoso, Nellie Fox, Eddie Robinson and Jim Busby and the pitching of Billy Pierce and Randy Gumpert.
2. 28-12 record
In both 1907 and 1912, the White Sox started fast before fading–the ’07 defending world champions to 87-64 and the 1912 club to 78-76.
The 1957 Sox also opened 28-12 and led the AL by six games on June 8 before finishing second with a 90-64 record. The fast start was keyed by speed. New manager Al Lopez’s switch of swift outfielders Jim Rivera to first base and Bubba Phillips to third opened up a spot for rookie burner Jim Landis in right field and gave the Sox–who already had Luis Aparicio and Minoso–the fastest team in baseball.
3. 27-13 record
Several Sox teams opened at this pace, but only the 1901, 1917 and 1919 AL champs made it pay off. The ’54 and ’64 teams went on to finish 94-60 and 98-64, respectively, but pennant-less–the ’54 club was done in by injuries to All-Stars George Kell and Ferris Fain, the ’64 team by going winless against the Yankees in the clubs’ first 10 meetings. The 1982 team, whose fine start was sparked in part by newcomers Tom Paciorek and Steve Kemp, faded to .500 on July 29 before finishing 87-75.
Looking ahead
Best 50-game start: 36-14 by the ’51 Sox, followed by 34-16 by the ’54 team and 33-17 by the 1917 world champs and the ’57 Sox.