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, known as the American League Divisional Series or ALDS. The winners of that round then advanced to the best-of-seven ALCS. This is the system currently in use. Since the system's inception, the only teams to meet more than twice are the Cleveland Indians vs. the Boston Red Sox, the Seattle Mariners vs. the New York Yankees, and the Texas Rangers vs. the New York Yankees.
the Braves and the Astros are the only team to have met more than twice, with the Braves winning the series each time.
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 National League Championship Series, World Series, Major League Baseball.
| 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 | 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 | 0 | 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 |
- See also : Baseball, American League pennant winners 1901-68
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