American League Championship Series

"ALCS" redirects here. For other uses, see ALCS (disambiguation).

Major League Baseball postseason
Part of a series on the
Wild Card
Wild Card game
Division Series
ALDS NLDS
League Championship Series
ALCS (Winners list) NLCS (Winners list)
World Series
List of World Series champions Commissioner's Trophy
Teams
Appearances Streaks Droughts

The American League Championship Series (ALCS) is a best-of-seven series played in October in the Major League Baseball postseason that determines the winner of the American League (AL) pennant. The winner of the series advances to play the winner of the National League (NL) Championship Series (NLCS) in the World Series, Major League Baseball's championship series.

History

It started in 1969, when the AL reorganized into two divisions, East and West. The winners of each division played each other in a best-of-five series to determine who would advance to the World Series. In 1985, the format changed to best-of-seven. In 1994, the league was restructured into three divisions, with the three division winners and a wild-card team advancing to a best-of-five postseason round, known as the American League Division Series (ALDS). The winners of that round then advanced to the best-of-seven ALCS. In 2012, the playoffs were expanded again so that two wild card teams face off in a one-game wild card round to determine which team advances to the division series, with the playoffs then continuing as it had before 2012 (though with the possibility of a fifth seed being in the playoffs and a fourth seed being out) after the end of the wild card round. This is the system currently in use.

The ALCS and NLCS, since the expansion to best-of-seven, are always played in a 2–3–2 format: Games 1, 2, 6, and 7 are played in the stadium of the team that has home field advantage, and Games 3, 4, and 5 are played in the stadium of the team that does not. The series concludes when one team records its fourth win. Since 1998, home field advantage has been given to the team that has the better regular season record, unless that team happens to be the Wild Card team. In that case, the other team gets home field advantage, because by rule the Wild Card team is never allowed home field advantage in a Division Series or LCS. In the event that both teams have identical records in the regular season, home field advantage goes to the team that has the winning head-to-head record. From 1969 to 1993, home field advantage alternated between the two divisions, and from 1995 to 1997 home field advantage was determined before the season.

Every current American League team except for the Houston Astros has played in the ALCS at least once. The Milwaukee Brewers, an American League team between 1969 and 1997, is the only franchise to play in the ALCS (1982) and NLCS (2011). No franchise has won both the National League and American League Championship Series.

Recurring matchups

Count	Matchup	Record	Years
4	Kansas City Royals vs. New York Yankees	Yankees, 3–1	1976, 1977, 1978, 1980
3	Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees	Yankees, 2–1	1999, 2003, 2004
3	Baltimore Orioles vs. Oakland Athletics	Athletics, 2–1	1971, 1973, 1974
3	Boston Red Sox vs. Oakland Athletics	Athletics, 2–1	1975, 1988, 1990
2	Baltimore Orioles vs. Minnesota Twins	Orioles, 2–0	1969, 1970
2	Detroit Tigers vs. Oakland Athletics	Tied, 1–1	1972, 2006
2	Kansas City Royals vs. Toronto Blue Jays	Royals, 2–0	1985, 2015
2	New York Yankees vs. Seattle Mariners	Yankees, 2–0	2000, 2001
2	Oakland Athletics vs. Toronto Blue Jays	Tied, 1–1	1989, 1992

Championship Trophy

The William Harridge Trophy is awarded to the ALCS champion. The trophy's namesake comes from the American League president from 1931 to 1959.^[1]

Most Valuable Player Award

See: League Championship Series Most Valuable Player Award#American League winners

The Lee MacPhail Most Valuable Player (MVP) award is given to the outstanding player in the ALCS. No MVP award is given for Division Series play.

Although the National League began its LCS MVP award in 1977, the American League did not begin its LCS MVP award till 1980. The winners are listed (1) below in the section on "ALCS results (1969–present)", in the "Series MVP" column, (2) at League Championship Series Most Valuable Player Award, and (3) on the MLB website.^[2]

ALCS results (1969–present)

Further information: List of American League pennant winners § 1901–1968

Click the link on the far left for detailed information on that series.

Key

wc	Denotes wild-card team (since 1995).
*	Denotes MVP did not play for winning team.

Year	Winner	Loser	Record	Series MVP	TV Network
1969	Baltimore Orioles	Minnesota Twins	3–0		NBC
1970	Baltimore Orioles	Minnesota Twins	3–0		NBC
1971	Baltimore Orioles	Oakland Athletics	3–0		NBC
1972	Oakland Athletics	Detroit Tigers	3–2		NBC
1973	Oakland Athletics	Baltimore Orioles	3–2		NBC
1974	Oakland Athletics	Baltimore Orioles	3–1		NBC
1975	Boston Red Sox	Oakland Athletics	3–0		NBC
1976	New York Yankees	Kansas City Royals	3–2		ABC
1977	New York Yankees	Kansas City Royals	3–2		NBC
1978	New York Yankees	Kansas City Royals	3–1		ABC
1979	Baltimore Orioles	California Angels	3–1		NBC
1980	Kansas City Royals	New York Yankees	3–0	Frank White, Kansas City	ABC
1981	New York Yankees	Oakland Athletics	3–0	Graig Nettles, New York	NBC
1982	Milwaukee Brewers	California Angels	3–2	Fred Lynn, California*	ABC
1983	Baltimore Orioles	Chicago White Sox	3–1	Mike Boddicker, Baltimore	NBC
1984	Detroit Tigers	Kansas City Royals	3–0	Kirk Gibson, Detroit	ABC
1985	Kansas City Royals	Toronto Blue Jays	4–3	George Brett, Kansas City	NBC
1986	Boston Red Sox	California Angels	4–3	Marty Barrett, Boston	ABC
1987	Minnesota Twins	Detroit Tigers	4–1	Gary Gaetti, Minnesota	NBC
1988	Oakland Athletics	Boston Red Sox	4–0	Dennis Eckersley, Oakland	ABC
1989	Oakland Athletics	Toronto Blue Jays	4–1	Rickey Henderson, Oakland	NBC
1990	Oakland Athletics	Boston Red Sox	4–0	Dave Stewart, Oakland	CBS
1991	Minnesota Twins	Toronto Blue Jays	4–1	Kirby Puckett, Minnesota	CBS
1992	Toronto Blue Jays	Oakland Athletics	4–2	Roberto Alomar, Toronto	CBS
1993	Toronto Blue Jays	Chicago White Sox	4–2	Dave Stewart, Toronto	CBS
1994	Series cancelled^[3]	—	—	—	—
1995	Cleveland Indians	Seattle Mariners	4–2	Orel Hershiser, Cleveland	ABC/NBC
1996	New York Yankees	Baltimore Orioles ^wc	4–1	Bernie Williams, New York	NBC
1997	Cleveland Indians	Baltimore Orioles	4–2	Marquis Grissom, Cleveland	Fox
1998	New York Yankees	Cleveland Indians	4–2	David Wells, New York	NBC
1999	New York Yankees	Boston Red Sox ^wc	4–1	Orlando Hernández, New York	Fox
2000	New York Yankees	Seattle Mariners ^wc	4–2	David Justice, New York	NBC
2001	New York Yankees	Seattle Mariners	4–1	Andy Pettitte, New York	Fox
2002	Anaheim Angels ^wc	Minnesota Twins	4–1	Adam Kennedy, Anaheim	Fox
2003	New York Yankees	Boston Red Sox ^wc	4–3	Mariano Rivera, New York	Fox
2004	Boston Red Sox ^wc	New York Yankees	4–3	David Ortiz, Boston	Fox
2005	Chicago White Sox	Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim	4–1	Paul Konerko, Chicago	Fox
2006	Detroit Tigers ^wc	Oakland Athletics	4–0	Plácido Polanco, Detroit	Fox
2007	Boston Red Sox	Cleveland Indians	4–3	Josh Beckett, Boston	Fox
2008	Tampa Bay Rays	Boston Red Sox ^wc	4–3	Matt Garza, Tampa Bay	TBS
2009	New York Yankees	Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim	4–2	CC Sabathia, New York	Fox
2010	Texas Rangers	New York Yankees ^wc	4–2	Josh Hamilton, Texas	TBS
2011	Texas Rangers	Detroit Tigers	4–2	Nelson Cruz, Texas	Fox
2012	Detroit Tigers	New York Yankees	4–0	Delmon Young, Detroit	TBS
2013	Boston Red Sox	Detroit Tigers	4–2	Koji Uehara, Boston	Fox
2014	Kansas City Royals ^wc	Baltimore Orioles	4–0	Lorenzo Cain, Kansas City	TBS
2015	Kansas City Royals	Toronto Blue Jays	4–2	Alcides Escobar, Kansas City	Fox/FS1
2016	Cleveland Indians	Toronto Blue Jays ^wc	4–1	Andrew Miller, Cleveland	TBS

ALCS appearances by team

Series appearances	Team	Wins	Losses	Win %	Most recent win	Most recent appearance
15	New York Yankees	11	4	68.75	2009	2012
11	Oakland Athletics	6	5	54.55	1990	2006
10	Boston Red Sox	5	5	50.00	2013	2013
10	Baltimore Orioles	5	5	50.00	1983	2014
8	Kansas City Royals	4	4	50.00	2015	2015
7	Detroit Tigers	3	4	42.86	2012	2013
7	Toronto Blue Jays	2	5	28.57	1993	2016
6	California/Anaheim/Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim	1	5	16.67	2002	2009
5	Cleveland Indians	3	2	60.00	2016	2016
5	Minnesota Twins	2	3	40.00	1991	2002
3	Chicago White Sox	1	2	33.33	2005	2005
3	Seattle Mariners	0	3	0.00	-	2001
2	Texas Rangers	2	0	100.00	2011	2011
1	Tampa Bay Rays	1	0	100.00	2008	2008
1	Milwaukee Brewers	1	0	100.00	1982	1982
0	Houston Astros	0	0	0.00	-	-

References

↑ winner.http://fielderschoice.wordpress.com/2009/04/10/overjoyed/ Dave (Tampa Bay Rays fan), "Overjoyed!", Fielder's Choice Baseball Card Blog, April 10, 2009. Retrieved August 17, 2009 (including photo of trophy).
↑ League Championship Series Most Valuable Players (MLB.com/News/Awards/History/ ). MLB Advanced Media, L.P. Retrieved August 31, 2009.
↑ "Baseball-Reference Playoff and World Series Index". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 5, 2009.

External links

ALCS Boxscores and Play-by-Play at Baseball-Reference.com

Major League Baseball (2016)

American League

East	Baltimore Orioles Boston Red Sox New York Yankees Tampa Bay Rays Toronto Blue Jays

Central	Chicago White Sox Cleveland Indians Detroit Tigers Kansas City Royals Minnesota Twins

West	Houston Astros Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Oakland Athletics Seattle Mariners Texas Rangers

National League

East	Atlanta Braves Miami Marlins New York Mets Philadelphia Phillies Washington Nationals

Central	Chicago Cubs Cincinnati Reds Milwaukee Brewers Pittsburgh Pirates St. Louis Cardinals

West	Arizona Diamondbacks Colorado Rockies Los Angeles Dodgers San Diego Padres San Francisco Giants

Postseason	World Series Champions NL NL Champions NLCS NLDS NLWC AL AL Champions ALCS ALDS ALWC Appearances Streaks Droughts

Steroid usage	Drug policy Doping Pittsburgh drug trials Mitchell Report MLB players named MLB players suspended for doping Biogenesis baseball scandal Jose Canseco books Juiced Vindicated Barry Bonds-related articles BALCO scandal Game of Shadows perjury case

Miscellaneous	All-Star Game World Baseball Classic International games Records Awards Retired numbers Hall of Fame Executive Management Winter Meetings Hot stove league Transactions MLB Draft First year player Rule 5 MLBPA TV contracts Highest paid players Instant replay MLB logo MLB team uniforms Minor leagues History AL Seasons Tie-breakers Tie-breaking procedures Rivalries Interleague play Schedule Stadiums Civil Rights Game Jackie Robinson Day Spring training (Cactus League, Grapefruit League) Opening Day Lockouts/strikes Mascots MLB.com

Timeline	Timeline of Major League Baseball Current teams History of team nicknames Dead-ball era Live-ball era Relocation of the 1950s–60s Expansion 1961 1962 1969 1977 1993 1998

Commissioner: Rob Manfred League Presidents NL AL

American League Championship Series

1969–1970s	1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979

1980s–1990s	1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 ~~1994~~ 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999

2000s–2010s	2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

AL pennant winners MVPs Broadcasters

American League

Organization

Current teams

East	Baltimore Orioles Boston Red Sox New York Yankees Tampa Bay Rays Toronto Blue Jays

Central	Chicago White Sox Cleveland Indians Detroit Tigers Kansas City Royals Minnesota Twins

West	Houston Astros Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Oakland Athletics Seattle Mariners Texas Rangers

Former and
relocated teams

Baltimore Orioles (1901–1902)
Kansas City Athletics (1955–1967)
Milwaukee Brewers I (1901)
Milwaukee Brewers II (1970–1997)
Philadelphia Athletics (1901–1954)
Seattle Pilots (1969)
St. Louis Browns (1902–1953)
Washington Senators I (1901–1960)
Washington Senators II (1961–1971)

Championship play

World Series

No World Series was held in 1904 because the NL champions refused to participate; no World Series was held in 1994 due to a players' strike.

1900s	1900 · 1901 · 1902 · 1903 ~~1904~~ 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909

1910s	1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919

1920s	1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929

1930s	1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939

1940s	1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949

1950s	1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959

1960s	1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969

1970s	1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979

1980s	1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989

1990s	1990 1991 1992 1993 ~~1994~~ 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999

2000s	2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

2010s	2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

See also	Pre-World Series champions World Series champions Most Valuable Players Starting pitchers Babe Ruth Award Commissioner's Trophy Appearances Streaks Droughts Broadcasters TV ratings ALCS NLCS ALDS NLDS ALWC NLWC 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake Dauvray Cup Temple Cup Chronicle-Telegraph Cup Game 7 World Series ring

Book:World Series

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