The American League Championship Series began in
1969, when the American League was reorganized into two division, East and West. The winners of each division played each other in a best-of-five series to determine who advanced 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. The winners of that round then advanced to the best-of-seven ALCS. This is the system currently in use.
A Most Valuable Player award is given to the outstanding player in the ALCS. No MVP award is given for divisional series play.
See also Baseball/National League Championship Series, Baseball/World Series, Baseball/Major leagues.
Year | Winner | Loser | Wins | Losses | 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, Milwaukee |
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, Red Sox |
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 defeated Seattle Mariners, 4 games to 2. MVP: Orel Hershiser, Cleveland.
- (Divisional series: Cleveland Indians defeated Boston Red Sox, 3 games to 0. Seattle Mariners defeated New York Yankees, 3 games to 2.)
- 1996: New York Yankees defeated Baltimore Orioles, 4 games to 1. MVP: Bernie Williams, New York
- (Divisional series: New York Yankees defeated Texas Rangers, 3 games to 1. Baltimore Orioles defeated Cleveland Indians, 3 games to 1.)
- 1997: Cleveland Indians defeated Baltimore Orioles, 4 games to 2. MVP: Marquis Grissom, Cleveland.
- (Divisional series: Baltimore Orioles defeated Seattle Mariners, 3 games to 1. Cleveland Indians defeated New York Yankees, 3 games to 2.)
- 1998: New York Yankees defeated Cleveland Indians, 4 games to 2. MVP: David Wells, New York.
- (Divisional series: New York Yankees defeated Texas Rangers, 3 games to 0. Cleveland Indians defeated Boston Red Sox, 3 games to 2.)
- 1999: New York Yankees defeated Boston Red Sox, 4 games to 0. MVP: Orlando Hernandez, New York
- (Divisional series: New York Yankees defeated Texas Rangers, 3 games to 0. Boston Red Sox defeated Cleveland Indians, 3 games to 2.)
- 2000: New York Yankees defeated Seattle Mariners, 4 games to 1. MVP: David Justice, New York
- (Divisional series: Seattle Mariners defeated Chicago White Sox, 3 games to 0. New York Yankees defeated Oakland Athletics, 3 games to 2.)
- 2001: New York Yankees defeated Seattle Mariners, 4 games to 1. MVP: Andy Pettitte, New York.
- (Divisional series: New York Yankees defeated Oakland Athletics, 3 games to 2. Seattle Mariners defeated Cleveland Indians, 3 games to 2.)