 Boston Red Soxdesignated hitterDavid Ortiz jumps onto home plate after winning Game 4 of the2004 American League Championship Series atFenway Park | |
| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Sport | Baseball |
| Month played | October |
| Established | 1969 |
| Administrator | Major League Baseball |
| Format | Best-of-seven series |
| Teams | 2 |
| Qualifier for | World Series |
| Defending champions | Toronto Blue Jays (3rd title) |
| Most championships | New York Yankees (12 titles) |
| Broadcast |
|
| Most recent tournament | |
| 2025 American League Championship Series | |
| Part of a series on the |
| Major League Baseball postseason |
|---|
| Wild Card Series |
| Division Series |
| League Championship Series |
| World Series |
| Teams |
TheAmerican League Championship Series (ALCS) is abest-of-seven playoff and one of twoLeague Championship Series comprising the penultimate round ofMajor League Baseball's (MLB)postseason. The winner of the ALCS wins the ALpennant and advances to theWorld Series, MLB's championship series, to play the winner of theNational 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.
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 onead hocsingle-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 andWest. 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, adivision series was held due to a split season caused by aplayers' 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 theAmerican League Division Series (ALDS). The winners of that round then advanced to the best-of-seven ALCS; however, due to theplayer'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 hashome 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 aWild 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 byJoe Torre, who led theNew York Yankees to four in a row (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001), andDusty Baker, who led theHouston Astros to four in a row (2020, 2021, 2022, 2023). The Astros (2017–2023) are also the only team in the American League to have made seven consecutive American League Championship Series appearances.Tony La Russa andJim Leyland are the only managers to lead their teams to three consecutive League Championship Series appearances in both leagues.
TheMilwaukee Brewers, an American League team between 1969 and 1997, and theHouston 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, and2022). Every current American League franchise has appeared in the ALCS.
TheWilliam Harridge Trophy is awarded to the ALCS champion.[1]Will Harridge served as American League president from 1931 to 1959.[2]
TheLee 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:
| † | Wild card |
|---|---|
* | MVP did not play for winning team |
| Apps | Team | Wins | Losses | Win % | Most recent win | Most recent appearance | Games won | Games lost | Game win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | New York Yankees | 12 | 7 | .632 | 2024 | 2024 | 54 | 45 | .545 |
| 12 | Boston Red Sox | 6 | 6 | .500 | 2018 | 2021 | 32 | 36 | .471 |
| 11 | 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 |
| 8 | Toronto Blue Jays | 3 | 5 | .375 | 2025 | 2025 | 20 | 27 | .426 |
| 7 | Detroit Tigers | 3 | 4 | .429 | 2012 | 2013 | 18 | 15 | .545 |
| 7 | Houston Astros | 4 | 3 | .571 | 2022 | 2023 | 23 | 19 | .548 |
| 6 | Los Angeles Angels | 1 | 5 | .167 | 2002 | 2009 | 13 | 19 | .406 |
| 6 | Cleveland Guardians | 3 | 3 | .500 | 2016 | 2024 | 18 | 17 | .514 |
| 5 | Minnesota Twins | 2 | 3 | .400 | 1991 | 2002 | 9 | 12 | .429 |
| 4 | Seattle Mariners | 0 | 4 | .000 | Never | 2025 | 8 | 16 | .333 |
| 3 | Chicago White Sox | 1 | 2 | .333 | 2005 | 2005 | 7 | 8 | .467 |
| 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[a] | 1 | 0 | 1.000 | 1982 | 1982 | 3 | 2 | .600 |
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | New York Yankees | 12 | 7 | .632 | 1976,1977,1978,1980,1981,1996,1998,1999,2000,2001,2003,2004,2009,2010,2012,2017,2019,2022,2024 |
| 12 | Boston Red Sox | 6 | 6 | .500 | 1975,1986,1988,1990,1999,2003,2004,2007,2008,2013,2018,2021 |
| 11 | 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 |
| 8 | Toronto Blue Jays | 3 | 5 | .375 | 1985,1989,1991,1992,1993,2015,2016,2025 |
| 7 | Detroit Tigers | 3 | 4 | .429 | 1972,1984,1987,2006,2011,2012,2013 |
| 6 | Cleveland Guardians | 3 | 3 | .500 | 1995,1997,1998,2007,2016,2024 |
| 3 | Texas Rangers | 3 | 0 | 1.000 | 2010,2011,2023 |
| 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[a] | 1 | 0 | 1.000 | 1982 |
| 4 | Seattle Mariners | 0 | 4 | .000 | 1995,2000,2001,2025 |
| Count | Matchup | Record | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Kansas City Royals vs.New York Yankees | Yankees, 3–1 | 1976,1977,1978,1980 |
| 3 | Baltimore Orioles vs.Athletics | Athletics, 2–1 | 1971,1973,1974 |
| 3 | Boston Red Sox vs.Athletics | Athletics, 2–1 | 1975,1988,1990 |
| 3 | Boston Red Sox vs.New York Yankees | Yankees, 2–1 | 1999,2003,2004 |
| 3 | Houston Astros vs.New York Yankees | Astros, 3–0 | 2017,2019,2022 |
| 2 | Baltimore Orioles vs.Minnesota Twins | Orioles, 2–0 | 1969,1970 |
| 2 | Athletics vs.Toronto Blue Jays | Tied, 1–1 | 1989,1992 |
| 2 | New York Yankees vs.Seattle Mariners | Yankees, 2–0 | 2000,2001 |
| 2 | Detroit Tigers vs.Athletics | Tied, 1–1 | 1972,2006 |
| 2 | Kansas City Royals vs.Toronto Blue Jays | Royals, 2–0 | 1985,2015 |
| 2 | Boston Red Sox vs.Houston Astros | Tied, 1–1 | 2018,2021 |
| 2 | Cleveland Guardians vs.New York Yankees | Yankees, 2–0 | 1998,2024 |
