American sports
American League Championship Series
In Major League Baseball, the American League Championship Series (ALCS) determines who wins the American League pennant and advances to face the winner of the National League Championship Series in baseball's championship, the World Series.
It began in 1969, when the American League was 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 playoff round, known as the American League Division Series or ALDS. The winners of that round then advanced to the best-of-seven ALCS. This is the system currently in use.
The Tampa Bay Devil Rays and Texas Rangers are the only American League teams to never appear in an ALCS. The other 12 teams and the Milwaukee Brewers (members of the AL from 1969-1997) have each appeared at least once.
A Most Valuable Player (MVP) award is given to the outstanding player in the ALCS. No MVP award is given for Division Series play.
ALCS results (1969-present)
| Year | Winner | Loser | Record | Series MVP |
| 1969 | Baltimore Orioles | Minnesota Twins | 3-0 | |
| 1970 | Baltimore Orioles | Minnesota Twins | 3-0 | |
| 1971 | Baltimore Orioles | Oakland Athletics | 3-0 | |
| 1972 | Oakland Athletics | Detroit Tigers | 3-2 | |
| 1973 | Oakland Athletics | Baltimore Orioles | 3-2 | |
| 1974 | Oakland Athletics | Baltimore Orioles | 3-1 | |
| 1975 | Boston Red Sox | Oakland Athletics | 3-0 | |
| 1976 | New York Yankees | Kansas City Royals | 3-2 | |
| 1977 | New York Yankees | Kansas City Royals | 3-2 | |
| 1978 | New York Yankees | Kansas City Royals | 3-1 | |
| 1979 | Baltimore Orioles | California Angels | 3-1 | |
| 1980 | Kansas City Royals | New York Yankees | 3-0 | Frank White, Kansas City |
| 1981 | New York Yankees | Oakland Athletics | 3-0 | Graig Nettles, New York |
| 1982 | Milwaukee Brewers | California Angels | 3-2 | Fred Lynn, California |
| 1983 | Baltimore Orioles | Chicago White Sox | 3-1 | Mike Boddicker, Baltimore |
| 1984 | Detroit Tigers | Kansas City Royals | 3-0 | Kirk Gibson, Detroit |
| 1985 | Kansas City Royals | Toronto Blue Jays | 4-3 | George Brett, Kansas City |
| 1986 | Boston Red Sox | California Angels | 4-3 | Marty Barrett, Boston |
| 1987 | Minnesota Twins | Detroit Tigers | 4-1 | Gary Gaetti, Minnesota |
| 1988 | Oakland Athletics | Boston Red Sox | 4-0 | Dennis Eckersley, Oakland |
| 1989 | Oakland Athletics | Toronto Blue Jays | 4-1 | Rickey Henderson, Oakland |
| 1990 | Oakland Athletics | Boston Red Sox | 4-0 | Dave Stewart, Oakland |
| 1991 | Minnesota Twins | Toronto Blue Jays | 4-1 | Kirby Puckett, Minnesota |
| 1992 | Toronto Blue Jays | Oakland Athletics | 4-2 | Roberto Alomar, Toronto |
| 1993 | Toronto Blue Jays | Chicago White Sox | 4-2 | Dave Stewart, Toronto |
| 1994 | Not held due to player strike. | |||
| 1995 | Cleveland Indians | Seattle Mariners | 4-2 | Orel Hershiser, Cleveland |
| 1996 | New York Yankees | Baltimore Orioles† | 4-1 | Bernie Williams, New York |
| 1997 | Cleveland Indians | Baltimore Orioles | 4-2 | Marquis Grissom, Cleveland |
| 1998 | New York Yankees | Cleveland Indians | 4-2 | David Wells, New York |
| 1999 | New York Yankees | Boston Red Sox† | 4-1 | Orlando Hernandez, New York |
| 2000 | New York Yankees | Seattle Mariners† | 4-2 | David Justice, New York |
| 2001 | New York Yankees | Seattle Mariners | 4-1 | Andy Pettitte, New York |
| 2002 | Anaheim Angels† | Minnesota Twins | 4-1 | Adam Kennedy, Anaheim |
| 2003 | New York Yankees | Boston Red Sox† | 4-3 | Mariano Rivera, New York |
| 2004 | Boston Red Sox† | New York Yankees | 4-3 | David Ortiz, Boston |
| 2005 | Chicago White Sox | Los Angeles Angels | 4-1 | Paul Konerko, Chicago |