With Boston’s 15-5 win Wednesday night in Colorado, the Red Sox now stand at 96-63 with three games to play this season. The 96 wins matches the same number of games won by the 2007 world championship team. This is made even more remarkable given that the team won just 69 games last season, its worst season since 1965, when Boston limped to a record of 62-100.
In franchise history, only six other teams have won more games in a single season:
- The 1912 team boasts the best record in franchise history, a record of 105-47; that club also won the World Series over the New York Giants four games to three. It is the only Series that featured a game which ended in a tie; the second game was called after 11 innings due to darkness with the teams tied at six.
- The 1946 team finished 104-50 and lost the World Series to the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games. This was Ted Williams‘ only World Series appearance; he was injured in an exhibition contest prior to the series and, although he refused to use it as an excuse, batted just .200 (5-for-25) with one RBI over all seven games.
- The 1915 squad finished 101-50 and bested the Philadelphia Phillies four games to one in the Fall Classic. It was the first of two straight world championship titles for the Red Sox, the only instance in club history of back-to-back titles.
- The 1978 club finished tied with the Yankees at 99-63. Forced into a one-game playoff at Fenway Park, New York edged Boston 5-4 thanks to Bucky Dent’s surprise three-run home run. Officially, the team’s final record is 99-64.
- The 2004 Red Sox finished 98-64, then won its first World Series in 86 years with a four-game sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals. This came on the heels of a American League Championship Series win over the Yankees, who had led three games to none in the series before Boston stormed back and won the final four games.
- Finally, the 1977 team finished 97-64, but that was only good enough for a tie for second place with the Baltimore Orioles in the seven-team American League East division. First place went to the Yankees, who finished 100-62 and later won the World Series over the Los Angeles Dodgers in six games.
In total, 29 teams in franchise history have won 90 games or more in a season; 16 of those teams have appeared in the postseason.