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American League Championship Series facts for kids

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The American League Championship Series (ALCS), also known as the American League Pennant, is a best-of-seven playoff and one of two League Championship Series comprising the penultimate round of Major League Baseball's (MLB) postseason. The winner of the ALCS wins the AL pennant and advances to the World Series, MLB's championship series, to play the winner of the National League's (NL) Championship Series. The ALCS began in 1969 as a best-of-five playoff and used this format until 1985, when it changed to its current best-of-seven format.

History

Prior to 1969, the American League champion (the "pennant winner") was determined by the best win–loss record at the end of the regular season. There was one ad hoc single-game playoff held, in 1948, due to a tie under this formulation.

The ALCS 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 1981, a division series was held due to a split season caused by a players' strike.

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; however, due to the player's strike later that season, no postseason was played and the new format did not formally begin until 1995. The playoffs were expanded in 2012 to include a second Wild Card team and in 2022 to include a third Wild Card team.

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, except a division champion would always get home advantage over a Wild Card team. If both teams have identical records in the regular season, then 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.

Nine managers have led a team to the ALCS in three consecutive seasons; the record for most consecutive ALCS appearances by a manager is jointly held by Joe Torre, who led the New York Yankees to four in a row (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001), and Dusty Baker, who led the Houston Astros to four in a row (2020, 2021, 2022, 2023). The Astros (2017-present) are also the only team in the American League to have made seven consecutive American League Championship Series appearances. Tony La Russa and Jim Leyland are the only managers to lead their teams to three consecutive League Championship Series appearances in both leagues.

The Milwaukee Brewers, an American League team between 1969 and 1997, and the Houston Astros, a National League team between 1962 and 2012, are the only franchises to play in both the ALCS and NLCS. The Astros are the only team to have won both an NLCS (2005) and an ALCS (2017, 2019, 2021, and 2022). Every current American League franchise has appeared in the ALCS.

Championship Trophy

The William Harridge Trophy is awarded to the ALCS champion. Will Harridge served as American League president from 1931 to 1959.

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 in several locations:

  • in the below ALCS results table, in the "Series MVP" column
  • in the article League Championship Series Most Valuable Player Award
  • on the MLB website

Results

Key
dagger Wild card
*
MVP did not play for winning team
Year Winning team Manager Games Losing team Manager Series MVP
1969 Baltimore Orioles Weaver, EarlEarl Weaver 3–0 Minnesota Twins Martin, BillyBilly Martin  
1970 Baltimore Orioles Weaver, EarlEarl Weaver 3–0 Minnesota Twins Rigney, BillBill Rigney
1971 Baltimore Orioles Weaver, EarlEarl Weaver 3–0 Oakland Athletics Williams, DickDick Williams
1972 Oakland Athletics Williams, DickDick Williams 3–2 Detroit Tigers Martin, BillyBilly Martin
1973 Oakland Athletics Williams, DickDick Williams 3–2 Baltimore Orioles Weaver, EarlEarl Weaver
1974 Oakland Athletics Dark, AlvinAlvin Dark 3–1 Baltimore Orioles Weaver, EarlEarl Weaver
1975 Boston Red Sox Johnson, DarrellDarrell Johnson 3–0 Oakland Athletics Dark, AlvinAlvin Dark
1976 New York Yankees Martin, BillyBilly Martin 3–2 Kansas City Royals Herzog, WhiteyWhitey Herzog
1977 New York Yankees Martin, BillyBilly Martin 3–2 Kansas City Royals Herzog, WhiteyWhitey Herzog
1978 New York Yankees Lemon, BobBob Lemon 3–1 Kansas City Royals Herzog, WhiteyWhitey Herzog
1979 Baltimore Orioles Weaver, EarlEarl Weaver 3–1 California Angels Fregosi, JimJim Fregosi
1980 Kansas City Royals Frey, JimJim Frey 3–0 New York Yankees Howser, DickDick Howser Frank White, Kansas City
1981 New York Yankees Lemon, BobBob Lemon 3–0 Oakland Athletics Martin, BillyBilly Martin Graig Nettles, New York
1982 Milwaukee Brewers Kuenn, HarveyHarvey Kuenn 3–2 California Angels Mauch, GeneGene Mauch Fred Lynn, California*
1983 Baltimore Orioles Altobelli, JoeJoe Altobelli 3–1 Chicago White Sox La Russa, TonyTony La Russa Mike Boddicker, Baltimore
1984 Detroit Tigers Anderson, SparkySparky Anderson 3–0 Kansas City Royals Howser, DickDick Howser Kirk Gibson, Detroit
1985 Kansas City Royals Howser, DickDick Howser 4–3 Toronto Blue Jays Cox, BobbyBobby Cox George Brett, Kansas City
1986 Boston Red Sox McNamara, JohnJohn McNamara 4–3 California Angels Mauch, GeneGene Mauch Marty Barrett, Boston
1987 Minnesota Twins Kelly, TomTom Kelly 4–1 Detroit Tigers Anderson, SparkySparky Anderson Gary Gaetti, Minnesota
1988 Oakland Athletics La Russa, TonyTony La Russa 4–0 Boston Red Sox Morgan, JoeJoe Morgan Dennis Eckersley, Oakland
1989 Oakland Athletics La Russa, TonyTony La Russa 4–1 Toronto Blue Jays Gaston, CitoCito Gaston Rickey Henderson, Oakland
1990 Oakland Athletics La Russa, TonyTony La Russa 4–0 Boston Red Sox Morgan, JoeJoe Morgan Dave Stewart, Oakland
1991 Minnesota Twins Kelly, TomTom Kelly 4–1 Toronto Blue Jays Gaston, CitoCito Gaston Kirby Puckett, Minnesota
1992 Toronto Blue Jays Gaston, CitoCito Gaston 4–2 Oakland Athletics La Russa, TonyTony La Russa Roberto Alomar, Toronto
1993 Toronto Blue Jays Gaston, CitoCito Gaston 4–2 Chicago White Sox Lamont, GeneGene Lamont Dave Stewart, Toronto
1994 No Series due to a players' strike.
1995 Cleveland Indians Hargrove, MikeMike Hargrove 4–2 Seattle Mariners Piniella, LouLou Piniella Orel Hershiser, Cleveland
1996 New York Yankees Torre, JoeJoe Torre 4–1 Baltimore Oriolesdagger Johnson, DaveyDavey Johnson Bernie Williams, New York
1997 Cleveland Indians Hargrove, MikeMike Hargrove 4–2 Baltimore Orioles Johnson, DaveyDavey Johnson Marquis Grissom, Cleveland
1998 New York Yankees Torre, JoeJoe Torre 4–2 Cleveland Indians Hargrove, MikeMike Hargrove David Wells, New York
1999 New York Yankees Torre, JoeJoe Torre 4–1 Boston Red Soxdagger Williams, JimyJimy Williams Orlando Hernández, New York
2000 New York Yankees Torre, JoeJoe Torre 4–2 Seattle Marinersdagger Piniella, LouLou Piniella David Justice, New York
2001 New York Yankees Torre, JoeJoe Torre 4–1 Seattle Mariners Piniella, LouLou Piniella Andy Pettitte, New York
2002 Anaheim Angelsdagger Scioscia, MikeMike Scioscia 4–1 Minnesota Twins Gardenhire, RonRon Gardenhire Adam Kennedy, Anaheim
2003 New York Yankees Torre, JoeJoe Torre 4–3 Boston Red Soxdagger Little, GradyGrady Little Mariano Rivera, New York
2004 Boston Red Soxdagger Francona, TerryTerry Francona 4–3 New York Yankees Torre, JoeJoe Torre David Ortiz, Boston
2005 Chicago White Sox Guillén, OzzieOzzie Guillén 4–1 Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Scioscia, MikeMike Scioscia Paul Konerko, Chicago
2006 Detroit Tigersdagger Leyland, JimJim Leyland 4–0 Oakland Athletics Macha, KenKen Macha Plácido Polanco, Detroit
2007 Boston Red Sox Francona, TerryTerry Francona 4–3 Cleveland Indians Wedge, EricEric Wedge Josh Beckett, Boston
2008 Tampa Bay Rays Maddon, JoeJoe Maddon 4–3 Boston Red Soxdagger Francona, TerryTerry Francona Matt Garza, Tampa Bay
2009 New York Yankees Girardi, JoeJoe Girardi 4–2 Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Scioscia, MikeMike Scioscia CC Sabathia, New York
2010 Texas Rangers Washington, RonRon Washington 4–2 New York Yankeesdagger Girardi, JoeJoe Girardi Josh Hamilton, Texas
2011 Texas Rangers Washington, RonRon Washington 4–2 Detroit Tigers Leyland, JimJim Leyland Nelson Cruz, Texas
2012 Detroit Tigers Leyland, JimJim Leyland 4–0 New York Yankees Girardi, JoeJoe Girardi Delmon Young, Detroit
2013 Boston Red Sox Farrell, JohnJohn Farrell 4–2 Detroit Tigers Leyland, JimJim Leyland Koji Uehara, Boston
2014 Kansas City Royalsdagger Yost, NedNed Yost 4–0 Baltimore Orioles Showalter, BuckBuck Showalter Lorenzo Cain, Kansas City
2015 Kansas City Royals Yost, NedNed Yost 4–2 Toronto Blue Jays Gibbons, JohnJohn Gibbons Alcides Escobar, Kansas City
2016 Cleveland Indians Francona, TerryTerry Francona 4–1 Toronto Blue Jaysdagger Gibbons, JohnJohn Gibbons Andrew Miller, Cleveland
2017 Houston Astros Hinch, A. J.A. J. Hinch 4–3 New York Yankeesdagger Girardi, JoeJoe Girardi Justin Verlander, Houston
2018 Boston Red Sox Cora, AlexAlex Cora 4–1 Houston Astros Hinch, A. J.A. J. Hinch Jackie Bradley Jr., Boston
2019 Houston Astros Hinch, A. J.A. J. Hinch 4–2 New York Yankees Boone, AaronAaron Boone José Altuve, Houston
2020 Tampa Bay Rays Cash, KevinKevin Cash 4–3 Houston Astros dagger Baker, DustyDusty Baker Randy Arozarena, Tampa Bay
2021 Houston Astros Baker, DustyDusty Baker 4–2 Boston Red Soxdagger Cora, AlexAlex Cora Yordan Álvarez, Houston
2022 Houston Astros Baker, DustyDusty Baker 4–0 New York Yankees Boone, AaronAaron Boone Jeremy Peña, Houston
2023 Texas Rangersdagger Bochy, BruceBruce Bochy 4–3 Houston Astros Baker, DustyDusty Baker Adolis García, Texas

Appearances by team

Apps Team Wins Losses Win % Most recent
win
Most recent
appearance
Games
won
Games
lost
Game
win %
18 New York Yankees 11 7 .611 2009 2022 50 44 .532
12 Boston Red Sox 6 6 .500 2018 2021 32 36 .471
11 Oakland Athletics 6 5 .545 1990 2006 23 23 .500
10 Baltimore Orioles 5 5 .500 1983 2014 21 20 .512
8 Kansas City Royals 4 4 .500 2015 2015 20 17 .541
7 Detroit Tigers 3 4 .429 2012 2013 18 15 .545
7 Houston Astros 4 3 .571 2022 2023 23 19 .548
7 Toronto Blue Jays 2 5 .286 1993 2016 16 24 .400
6 Los Angeles Angels 1 5 .167 2002 2009 13 19 .406
5 Cleveland Guardians 3 2 .600 2016 2016 17 13 .567
5 Minnesota Twins 2 3 .400 1991 2002 9 12 .429
3 Chicago White Sox 1 2 .333 2005 2005 7 8 .467
3 Seattle Mariners 0 3 .000 Never 2001 5 12 .294
3 Texas Rangers 3 0 1.000 2023 2023 12 7 .632
2 Tampa Bay Rays 2 0 1.000 2020 2020 8 6 .571
1 Milwaukee Brewers 1 0 1.000 1982 1982 3 2 .600

Years of appearance

In the sortable table below, teams are ordered first by number of wins, then by number of appearances, and finally by year of first appearance. In the "Season(s)" column, bold years indicate winning appearances.

Apps Team Wins Losses Win % Season(s)
18 New York Yankees 11 7 .611 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2017, 2019, 2022
12 Boston Red Sox 6 6 .500 1975, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2013, 2018, 2021
11 Oakland Athletics 6 5 .545 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1981, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, 2006
10 Baltimore Orioles 5 5 .500 1969, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1979, 1983, 1996, 1997, 2014
8 Kansas City Royals 4 4 .500 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1984, 1985, 2014, 2015
7 Houston Astros 4 3 .571 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
7 Detroit Tigers 3 4 .429 1972, 1984, 1987, 2006, 2011, 2012, 2013
5 Cleveland Guardians 3 2 .600 1995, 1997, 1998, 2007, 2016
3 Texas Rangers 3 0 1.000 2010, 2011, 2023
7 Toronto Blue Jays 2 5 .286 1985, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 2015, 2016
5 Minnesota Twins 2 3 .400 1969, 1970, 1987, 1991, 2002
2 Tampa Bay Rays 2 0 1.000 2008, 2020
6 Los Angeles Angels 1 5 .167 1979, 1982, 1986, 2002, 2005, 2009
3 Chicago White Sox 1 2 .333 1983, 1993, 2005
1 Milwaukee Brewers 1 0 1.000 1982
3 Seattle Mariners 0 3 .000 1995, 2000, 2001

Recurring matchups

Count Matchup Record Years
4 Kansas City Royals vs. New York Yankees Yankees, 3–1 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980
3 Houston Astros vs. New York Yankees Astros, 3–0 2017, 2019, 2022
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
2 Boston Red Sox vs. Houston Astros Tied, 1–1 2018, 2021

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Serie de Campeonato de la Liga Americana para niños

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