The National League Championship Series began in
1969, when the National 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 1981 a divisional series was held due to split-season caused by strike action.
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 advance to the best-of-seven NLCS. This is the system currently in use.
A Most Valuable Player award is given to the outstanding player in each series. No MVP award is given for divisional series play.
See also Baseball/American League Championship Series, Baseball/World Series, Baseball/Major leagues.
Year | Winner | Loser | Wins | Losses | Series MVP |
1969 | New York Mets | Atlanta Braves | 3 | 0 | |
1970 | Cincinnati Reds | Pittsburgh Pirates | 3 | 0 | |
1971 | Pittsburgh Pirates | San Francisco Giants | 3 | 1 | |
1972 | Cincinnati Reds | Pittsburgh Pirates | 3 | 2 | |
1973 | New York Mets | Cincinnati Reds | 3 | 2 | |
1974 | Los Angeles Dodgers | Pittsburgh Pirates | 3 | 1 | |
1975 | Cincinnati Reds | Pittsburgh Pirates | 3 | 0 | |
1976 | Cincinnati Reds | Philadelphia Phillies | 3 | 0 | |
1977 | Los Angeles Dodgers | Philadelphia Phillies | 3 | 1 | Dusty Baker, Los Angeles |
1978 | Los Angeles Dodgers | Philadelphia Phillies | 3 | 1 | Steve Garvey |
1979 | Pittsburgh Pirates | Cincinnati Reds | 3 | 0 | Willie Stargell, Pittsburgh |
1980 | Philadelphia Phillies | Houston Astros | 3 | 2 | Manny Trillo, Philadelphia |
1981 | Los Angeles Dodgers | Montreal Expos | 3 | 2 | Burt Hooton, Los Angeles |
1982 | St. Louis Cardinals | Atlanta Braves | 3 | 0 | Darrell Porter, St. Louis |
1983 | Philadelphia Phillies | Los Angeles Dodgers | 3 | 1 | Garry Matthews, Philadelphia |
1984 | San Diego Padres | Chicago Cubs | 3 | 2 | Steve Garvey, San Diego |
1985 | St. Louis Cardinals | Los Angeles Dodgers | 4 | 2 | Ozzie Smith, St. Louis |
1986 | New York Mets | Houston Astros | 4 | 2 | Mike Scott, New York |
1987 | St. Louis Cardinals | San Francisco Giants | 4 | 3 | Jeff Leonard, St. Louis |
1988 | Los Angeles Dodgers | New York Mets | 4 | 3 | Orel Hershiser |
1989 | San Francisco Giants | Chicago Cubs | 4 | 1 | Will Clark, San Francisco |
1990 | Cincinnati Reds | Pittsburgh Pirates | 4 | 2 | Rob Dibble and Randy Myers, Cincinnati |
1991 | Atlanta Braves | Pittsburgh Pirates | 4 | 3 | Steve Avery, Atlanta |
1992 | Atlanta Braves | Pittsburgh Pirates | 4 | 3 | John Smoltz, Atlanta |
1993 | Philadelphia Phillies | Atlanta Braves | 4 | 2 | [Curt Schilling]?, Philadelphia |
1994 | | Not held due to player strike |
1995 | Atlanta Braves | Cincinnati Reds | 4 | 0 | Mike Devereaux, Atlanta |
1996 | Atlanta Braves | St Louis Cardinals | 4 | 3 | Javy Lopez, Atlanta |
1997 | Florida Marlins | Atlanta Braves | 4 | 2 | Livan Hernandez, Florida |
1998 | San Diego Padres | Atlanta Braves | 4 | 2 | Sterling Hitchcock, San Diego |
1999 | Atlanta Braves | New York Mets | 4 | 2 | Eddie Perez, Atlanta |
2000 | New York Mets | St Louis Cardinals | 4 | 1 | Mike Hampton, New York |
2001 | Arizona Diamondbacks | Atlanta Braves | 4 | 1 | Craig Counsell, Arizona |