2011 Red Sox - Fastest To 60 Wins Since 1979

UPDATED: See below!

Last night's victory over Seattle in Game #97 was the Red Sox's 60th win of the season. Despite the team's 0-6 (and 2-10) start, it's the quickest a Red Sox team has reached 60 wins since 1979. In fact, only five teams in Red Sox history have reached 60 wins in fewer games than the 2011 club.

I looked at every Red Sox team that finished with 80+ wins in a season.

Fewest Games to Win #60
Games   Season
  86    1946
  87    1912
  88    1978
  95    1903, 1979
  97    1915, 1918, 1939, 2011
  98    2006
  99    1951, 1995, 2007

Also, the 2011 Red Sox have a .619 winning percentage. There are still 65 games to go, but that is currently tied for 6th highest in franchise history. If this team can maintain that pace, it would be the best finish in more than 60 years (1949). Only 12 Red Sox teams have won at least 60% of their games, and only seven have finished with a winning percentage higher than .615.

The Red Sox included a small chart in its press notes today, entitled: "Earliest Date To Reach 60 Wins". Because each baseball season does not start on the same day every year (and there can be postponements along the way), listing the teams by date is totally worthless and utterly stupid.

The Red Sox made two errors in its chart:

1. The 1903 team did not win its 60th game in G94. My figure of G95 is correct. The Red Sox played to a tie on July 31, so after winning their 60th game, their record was 60-34-1.

2. The 1915 team did not win its 60th game in G94. My figure of G97 is correct. The Red Sox played to three ties (April 16, June 19, July 25), so after winning their 60th game, their record was 60-34-3.

However, thanks to the Red Sox's chart, I found an error of my own. The (ahem) 1918 Red Sox won its 60th game in G97. But because that season was shortened by about a month, the team finished with a 75-51 record - and thus fell below my 80-win cut-off. I have added it above.