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.

For American League pennant winners prior to 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.

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

†Denotes wild-card team (since 1995).