American League Championship Series 3861 222809642 2008-07-01T06:01:26Z Mmpartee 1192320 /* ALCS results (1969-present) */ added Dick Hall info to 69 AL Championship Series {{redirect|ALCS}} {{Mlbplayoffs}} In [[Major League Baseball]], the '''American League Championship Series''' ('''ALCS'''), played in October, is a [[playoff]] round that determines the winner of the [[American League pennant]]. The winner of the series advances to play the winner of the [[National League Championship Series]] in [[baseball]]'s championship, the [[World Series]]. It began in [[1969 in baseball|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 in baseball|1985]], the format changed to best-of-seven. In [[1994 in baseball|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 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. Home field advantage is given to the team that has the better 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. The [[Tampa Bay Rays]] and [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|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. The [[William Harridge]] Trophy is awarded to the ALCS winner. For American League pennant winners prior to [[1969 in baseball|1969]], see [[American League pennant winners 1901-68]]. == ALCS results (1969-present) == Click the link on the far left for detailed information on that series. {| border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="3" |- style="background-color: #e0e0e0;" ! Year ! Winner ! Loser ! Record ! Series MVP ! Notable |- | [[1969 American League Championship Series|1969]] | [[Baltimore Orioles]] || [[Minnesota Twins]] | align="center" | 3-0 || &nbsp; | [[Dick Hall]] becomes the first pitcher to record a win in League Championship Series play<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hickoksports.com/history/alcs1969.shtml#lines|title=History - 1969 American League Championship Series|publisher=Hickok Sports.com|accessdate=2007-07-01}}</ref> |- style="background-color: #e0e0e0;" | [[1970 American League Championship Series|1970]] | [[Baltimore Orioles]] || [[Minnesota Twins]] | align="center" | 3-0 || &nbsp; |- | [[1971 American League Championship Series|1971]] | [[Baltimore Orioles]] || [[Oakland Athletics]] | align="center" | 3-0 || &nbsp; |- style="background-color: #e0e0e0;" | [[1972 American League Championship Series|1972]] | [[Oakland Athletics]] || [[Detroit Tigers]] | align="center" | 3-2 || &nbsp; |- | [[1973 American League Championship Series|1973]] | [[Oakland Athletics]] || [[Baltimore Orioles]] | align="center" | 3-2 || &nbsp; |- style="background-color: #e0e0e0;" | [[1974 American League Championship Series|1974]] | [[Oakland Athletics]] || [[Baltimore Orioles]] | align="center" | 3-1 || &nbsp; |- | [[1975 American League Championship Series|1975]] | [[Boston Red Sox]] || [[Oakland Athletics]] | align="center" | 3-0 || &nbsp; |- style="background-color: #e0e0e0;" | [[1976 American League Championship Series|1976]] | [[New York Yankees]] || [[Kansas City Royals]] | align="center" | 3-2 || &nbsp; | [[Chris Chambliss]] hits a [[walk-off home run]] in Game 5. |- | [[1977 American League Championship Series|1977]] | [[New York Yankees]] || [[Kansas City Royals]] | align="center" | 3-2 || &nbsp; | The visiting Yankees score three runs in the top of the ninth inning of Game 5 on their way to the second of three straight World Series appearances. |- style="background-color: #e0e0e0;" | [[1978 American League Championship Series|1978]] | [[New York Yankees]] || [[Kansas City Royals]] | align="center" | 3-1 || &nbsp; | [[George Brett (baseball)|George Brett]] sets an ALCS single-game record with three home runs in Game 4 and sets the full series record with two triples (a mark since equaled by [[Kenny Lofton]]) |- | [[1979 American League Championship Series|1979]] | [[Baltimore Orioles]] | [[Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim|California Angels]] | align="center" | 3-1 || &nbsp; |- style="background-color: #e0e0e0;" | [[1980 American League Championship Series|1980]] | [[Kansas City Royals]] || [[New York Yankees]] | align="center" | 3-0 || [[Frank White (baseball player)|Frank White]], Kansas City | The Royals sweep the Yankees to become the first AL expansion team to win a pennant. |- | [[1981 American League Championship Series|1981]] | [[New York Yankees]] || [[Oakland Athletics]] | align="center" | 3-0 || [[Graig Nettles]], New York | Professional cheerleader [[Krazy George Henderson]] debuts [[audience wave|"the wave"]] during Game 3 in Oakland. |- style="background-color: #e0e0e0;" | [[1982 American League Championship Series|1982]] | [[Milwaukee Brewers]] | [[Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim|California Angels]] | align="center" | 3-2 || [[Fred Lynn]], California | First LCS ever to match two expansion teams. |- | [[1983 American League Championship Series|1983]] | [[Baltimore Orioles]] || [[Chicago White Sox]] | align="center" | 3-1 || [[Mike Boddicker]], Baltimore |- style="background-color: #e0e0e0;" | [[1984 American League Championship Series|1984]] | [[Detroit Tigers]] || [[Kansas City Royals]] | align="center" | 3-0 || [[Kirk Gibson]], Detroit |Paced by Gibson's hitting, the Tigers sweep the Royals en route to a World Championship. |- | [[1985 American League Championship Series|1985]] | [[Kansas City Royals]] || [[Toronto Blue Jays]] | align="center" | 4-3 || [[George Brett (baseball)|George Brett]], Kansas City | The first best-of-seven ALCS. Down 3 games to 1, Kansas City comes back, including two [[Exhibition Stadium|road]] wins. [[Jim Sundberg]] breaks Game 7 wide open with a 3-RBI triple. |- style="background-color: #e0e0e0;" | [[1986 American League Championship Series|1986]] | [[Boston Red Sox]] | [[Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim|California Angels]] | align="center" | 4-3 || [[Marty Barrett]], Boston | Angels are one out (one strike) from the pennant in Game 5 when [[Dave Henderson]] hits a go-ahead home run against [[Donnie Moore]]. The Angels tie the game but the Red Sox win in extra innings, then take the next two at home. |- | [[1987 American League Championship Series|1987]] | [[Minnesota Twins]] || [[Detroit Tigers]] | align="center" | 4-1 || [[Gary Gaetti]], Minnesota |The Twins advanced to their first World Series since 1965 despite having the weakest record of any of the 4 division champions in 1987. |- style="background-color: #e0e0e0;" | [[1988 American League Championship Series|1988]] | [[Oakland Athletics]] || [[Boston Red Sox]] | align="center" | 4-0 || [[Dennis Eckersley]], Oakland | Eckersley sets an unbreakable record with 4 saves in the series. |- | [[1989 American League Championship Series|1989]] | [[Oakland Athletics]] || [[Toronto Blue Jays]] | align="center" | 4-1 || [[Rickey Henderson]], Oakland | Henderson's 8 steals (in just 5 games) are an ALCS record, but the big story is the mammoth home run [[José Canseco]] blasts into the highest deck of the [[SkyDome]]. |- style="background-color: #e0e0e0;" | [[1990 American League Championship Series|1990]] | [[Oakland Athletics]] || [[Boston Red Sox]] | align="center" | 4-0 | [[Dave Stewart (baseball player)|Dave Stewart]], Oakland | [[Roger Clemens]] gets ejected in Game 4, putting the nail in Boston's coffin. |- | [[1991 American League Championship Series|1991]] | [[Minnesota Twins]] || [[Toronto Blue Jays]] | align="center" | 4-1 || [[Kirby Puckett]], Minnesota |- style="background-color: #e0e0e0;" | [[1992 American League Championship Series|1992]] | [[Toronto Blue Jays]] || [[Oakland Athletics]] | align="center" | 4-2 || [[Roberto Alomar]], Toronto | MVP Alomar hits a crucial 9th-inning home run off [[Dennis Eckersley]] in Game 4. The Jays become the first team outside the [[United States|U.S.]] to win a pennant. |- | [[1993 American League Championship Series|1993]] | [[Toronto Blue Jays]] || [[Chicago White Sox]] | align="center" | 4-2 | [[Dave Stewart (baseball player)|Dave Stewart]], Toronto |The Blue Jays knocked off the White Sox in 6 games en route to their second consecutive World Championship. |- style="background-color: #e0e0e0;" | 1994 | colspan="4" align="center" | ''Not held due to [[1994 Major League Baseball strike|labor dispute]].'' |- | [[1995 American League Championship Series|1995]] | [[Cleveland Indians]] || [[Seattle Mariners]] | align="center" | 4-2 || [[Orel Hershiser]], Cleveland |Hershiser became the first player to win LCS MVP awards in both leagues as Cleveland won their first AL Pennant since 1954. |- style="background-color: #e0e0e0;" | [[1996 American League Championship Series|1996]] | [[New York Yankees]] || [[Baltimore Orioles]]† | align="center" | 4-1 | [[Bernie Williams]], New York | Aided by fan [[Jeffrey Maier]], who reached over the right field wall to pull a fly ball into the stands and out of the reach of Orioles outfielder [[Tony Tarasco]], [[Derek Jeter]] hit a game-tying home run in Game 1, then Williams hit the walk-off shot in extra innings. |- | [[1997 American League Championship Series|1997]] | [[Cleveland Indians]] || [[Baltimore Orioles]] | align="center" | 4-2 || [[Marquis Grissom]], Cleveland | An 11th inning Home Run by [[Tony Fernández]] in game 6 propelled Cleveland to its second pennant in three years. |- style="background-color: #e0e0e0;" | [[1998 American League Championship Series|1998]] | [[New York Yankees]] || [[Cleveland Indians]] | align="center" | 4-2 || [[David Wells]], New York |The Yankees defeat of the Indians in 6 games would be the first of four consecutive AL Pennants for the Yankees. |- | [[1999 American League Championship Series|1999]] | [[New York Yankees]] || [[Boston Red Sox]]† | align="center" | 4-1 || [[Orlando Hernández]], New York |Bernie Williams' walk-off Home Run in the 11th inning of game 1 sent the Yankees on their way to their second consecutive AL Pennant. |- style="background-color: #e0e0e0;" | [[2000 American League Championship Series|2000]] | [[New York Yankees]] || [[Seattle Mariners]]† | align="center" | 4-2 || [[David Justice]], New York | Justice's towering homer off [[Arthur Rhodes]] in Game 6 ensured the first [[Subway Series]] since 1956. [[Roger Clemens]] set an ALCS record with 15 strikeouts in a one-hit shutout of Seattle in Game 4. |- | [[2001 American League Championship Series|2001]] | [[New York Yankees]] || [[Seattle Mariners]] | align="center" | 4-1 || [[Andy Pettitte]], New York | Although the Mariners boasted a record 116 wins in the regular season, the Yankees wiped them out in 5 games. [[Alfonso Soriano]] hit a walk-off home run in Game 4. |- style="background-color: #e0e0e0;" | [[2002 American League Championship Series|2002]] | [[Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim|Anaheim Angels]]† || [[Minnesota Twins]] | align="center" | 4-1 || [[Adam Kennedy]], Anaheim | The series MVP hit three home runs in the deciding Game 5 despite swatting just 7 in the regular season. |- | [[2003 American League Championship Series|2003]] | [[New York Yankees]] || [[Boston Red Sox]]† | align="center" | 4-3 || [[Mariano Rivera]], New York | [[Aaron Boone]] hit an 11th-inning blast off [[Tim Wakefield]] to cap off an exciting Game 7. Considered by some to be the best game in the [[Yankees-Red Sox Rivalry]], it may be better known for [[Grady Little]] refusing to pull ace [[Pedro Martínez]] from the game. The series was also marred by a fight in Game 3, instigated after [[Pedro Martínez]] hit [[Karim Garcia]] in retaliation for [[Roger Clemens]] throwing a pitch near the head of [[Manny Ramírez]]. The fight was memorable for [[Don Zimmer]]'s charge toward [[Martinez]] in the fracas, which Martinez was able to avoid by side-stepping Zimmer and pushing him to the ground. |- style="background-color: #e0e0e0;" | [[2004 American League Championship Series|2004]] | [[Boston Red Sox]]† || [[New York Yankees]] | align="center" | 4-3 || [[David Ortiz]], Boston | Boston becomes the first baseball team in history to win a series after losing the first three games. The series featured, among other things, two consecutive postseason blown saves by [[Yankee]] closer [[Mariano Rivera]] and two consecutive walk-off hits from [[Red Sox]] slugger [[David Ortiz]], both in Games 4 and 5. |- | [[2005 American League Championship Series|2005]] | [[Chicago White Sox]] || [[Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim]] | align="center" | 4-1 || [[Paul Konerko]], Chicago | After [[Neal Cotts]] worked ⅔ of an inning in a Game 1 loss, the White Sox, aided by a controversial [[Doug Eddings]] dropped third strike call in Game 2, pitched 4 complete games in a row. Konerko hit two first inning homers in Games 3 and 4. |- style="background-color: #e0e0e0;" | [[2006 American League Championship Series|2006]] | [[Detroit Tigers]]† || [[Oakland Athletics]] | align="center" | 4-0 || [[Plácido Polanco]], Detroit | [[Magglio Ordóñez]] hit a [[walk-off home run]] in the bottom of the ninth of Game 4 to complete the sweep. Oakland also went a playoff record 0-for-13 with runners in scoring position in Game 1, hitting into four double-plays. |- | [[2007 American League Championship Series|2007]] || [[Boston Red Sox]] || [[Cleveland Indians]] | align="center" | 4-3 || [[Josh Beckett]], Boston | Boston's eighth ALCS appearance and Cleveland's fourth. In Game 4, [[Kevin Youkilis]], [[David Ortiz]], and [[Manny Ramírez]] of Boston hit the first back-to-back-to-back home runs in LCS history. In Game 7, the tie-breaking game, the Red Sox and Indians were neck and neck, 3-2, until the 7th inning when Boston scored two more runs, and in the 8th, when they scored six more. |}†''Denotes wild-card team (since 1995).'' ==References== *[http://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/ ALCS Boxscores and Play-by-Play at Baseball-Reference.com] {{ALCS}} [[Category:American League Championship Series| ]] [[Category:Baseball playoffs and champions]] [[Category:Recurring events established in 1969]] [[fr:Série de championnat de la Ligue américaine de baseball]] [[zh:美國聯盟冠軍賽]]