View source for American League Championship Series

{{short description|Major League Baseball series}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2015}}
{{Redirect|ALCS}}
{{Infobox tournament
| name =<!--inherited from page name-->
| image = DSCN0387 David Ortiz jumps into home.jpg
| image_size = 250px
| caption = [[Boston Red Sox]] [[designated hitter]] [[David Ortiz]] jumps onto home plate after winning Game 4 of the [[2004 American League Championship Series]] at [[Fenway Park]]
| sport = [[Baseball]]
| month_played = October
| established = [[1969 American League Championship Series|1969]]
| administrator = [[Major League Baseball]]
| format = [[Best-of-seven series]]
| teams = 2
| qualifier_for = [[World Series]]
| most_champs = [[New York Yankees]]<br />(12 titles)
| defending_champs = [[Toronto Blue Jays]]<br />(3rd title)
| broadcast = {{unbulleted list
   | '''United States:'''
   | [[MLB on Fox|Fox]]/[[MLB on FS1|FS1]] (TV, odd-numbered years)
   | [[MLB on TBS|TBS/TruTV]] (TV, even-numbered years)
   | [[Major League Baseball on ESPN Radio|ESPN Radio]]
   | '''Canada:'''
   | [[Toronto Blue Jays on Sportsnet|Sportsnet]]
   }}
| current = [[2025 American League Championship Series]]
}}
{{MLB playoffs sidebar}}
The '''American League Championship Series''' ('''ALCS''') is a [[Playoff format#Best-of-seven playoff|best-of-seven playoff]] and one of two [[League Championship Series]] comprising the penultimate round of [[Major League Baseball]]'s (MLB) [[Major League Baseball postseason|postseason]]. The winner of the ALCS wins the AL [[pennant (sports)|pennant]] and advances to the [[World Series]], MLB's championship series, to play the winner of the [[National League (baseball)|National League]]'s (NL) [[National League Championship Series|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 "[[List of American League pennant winners|pennant winner]]") was determined by the best win–loss record at the end of the regular season. There was one ''ad hoc'' [[List of Major League Baseball tie-breakers|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, [[American League East|East]] and [[American League West|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 [[1981 National League Division Series|division series]] was held due to a split season caused by a [[1981 Major League Baseball strike|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 [[1994–95 Major League Baseball strike|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 (sports)|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 (2017–2023) 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 National League Championship Series|2005]]) and an ALCS ([[2017 American League Championship Series|2017]], [[2019 American League Championship Series|2019]], [[2021 American League Championship Series|2021]], and [[2022 American League Championship Series|2022]]). Every current American League franchise has appeared in the ALCS.

==Championship Trophy==
The [[William Harridge Trophy]] is awarded to the ALCS champion.<ref>http://fielderschoice.wordpress.com/2009/04/10/overjoyed/ Dave (Tampa Bay Rays fan), "Overjoyed!", Fielder's Choice Baseball Card Blog, April 10, 2009. Retrieved August 17, 2009 (including photo of trophy).</ref> [[Will Harridge]] served as American League president from 1931 to 1959.<ref>{{cite web|last=Armour|first=Mark|title=SABR Baseball Biography Project: Will Harridge|url=http://sabr.org/bioproj/person/111c653a|publisher=Society for American Baseball Research|access-date=February 13, 2013}}</ref>

==Most Valuable Player Award==
:''See: [[League Championship Series Most Valuable Player Award#American League winners]]''
The [[Lee MacPhail#Lee MacPhail MVP Award|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<ref>[http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/history/postseason/mlb_lcs.jsp?feature=mvp League Championship Series Most Valuable Players] (MLB.com/News/Awards/History/ ). MLB Advanced Media, L.P. Retrieved August 31, 2009.</ref>

==Results==
{{Further|List of American League pennant winners#1901–1968}}
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:1.00em; line-height:1.5em;"
|+Key
!scope="row"|{{dagger}}
|[[Major League Baseball wild card|Wild card]]
|-
!scope="row"|{{center|*}}
|MVP did not play for winning team
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="font-size:1.00em; line-height:1.5em;"
|-
! scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Winning team
! scope="col" | Manager
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Games
! scope="col" | Losing team
! scope="col" | Manager
! scope="col" | Series MVP
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[1969 American League Championship Series|1969]]
| [[1969 Baltimore Orioles season|Baltimore Orioles]] || {{sortname|Earl|Weaver}}
|align="center"| 3–0
| [[1969 Minnesota Twins season|Minnesota Twins]] || {{sortname|Billy|Martin}}
| rowspan="11" bgcolor=lightgrey|&nbsp;
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[1970 American League Championship Series|1970]]
| [[1970 Baltimore Orioles season|Baltimore Orioles]] || {{sortname|Earl|Weaver}}
|align="center"| 3–0
| [[1970 Minnesota Twins season|Minnesota Twins]] || {{sortname|Bill|Rigney}}
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[1971 American League Championship Series|1971]]
| [[1971 Baltimore Orioles season|Baltimore Orioles]] || {{sortname|Earl|Weaver}}
|align="center"| 3–0
| [[1971 Oakland Athletics season|Oakland Athletics]] || {{sortname|Dick|Williams}}
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[1972 American League Championship Series|1972]]
| [[1972 Oakland Athletics season|Oakland Athletics]] || {{sortname|Dick|Williams}}
|align="center"| 3–2
| [[1972 Detroit Tigers season|Detroit Tigers]] || {{sortname|Billy|Martin}}
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[1973 American League Championship Series|1973]]
| [[1973 Oakland Athletics season|Oakland Athletics]] || {{sortname|Dick|Williams}}
|align="center"| 3–2
| [[1973 Baltimore Orioles season|Baltimore Orioles]] || {{sortname|Earl|Weaver}}
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[1974 American League Championship Series|1974]]
| [[1974 Oakland Athletics season|Oakland Athletics]] || {{sortname|Alvin|Dark}}
|align="center"| 3–1
| [[1974 Baltimore Orioles season|Baltimore Orioles]] || {{sortname|Earl|Weaver}}
|- 
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[1975 American League Championship Series|1975]]
| [[1975 Boston Red Sox season|Boston Red Sox]] || {{sortname|Darrell|Johnson}}
|align="center"| 3–0
| [[1975 Oakland Athletics season|Oakland Athletics]] || {{sortname|Alvin|Dark}}
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[1976 American League Championship Series|1976]]
| [[1976 New York Yankees season|New York Yankees]] || {{sortname|Billy|Martin}}
|align="center"| 3–2
| [[1976 Kansas City Royals season|Kansas City Royals]] || {{sortname|Whitey|Herzog}}
|- 
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[1977 American League Championship Series|1977]]
| [[1977 New York Yankees season|New York Yankees]] || {{sortname|Billy|Martin}}
|align="center"| 3–2
| [[1977 Kansas City Royals season|Kansas City Royals]] || {{sortname|Whitey|Herzog}}
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[1978 American League Championship Series|1978]]
| [[1978 New York Yankees season|New York Yankees]] || {{sortname|Bob|Lemon}}
|align="center"| 3–1
| [[1978 Kansas City Royals season|Kansas City Royals]] || {{sortname|Whitey|Herzog}}
|- 
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[1979 American League Championship Series|1979]]
| [[1979 Baltimore Orioles season|Baltimore Orioles]] || {{sortname|Earl|Weaver}}
|align="center"| 3–1
| [[1979 California Angels season|California Angels]] || {{sortname|Jim|Fregosi}}
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[1980 American League Championship Series|1980]]
| [[1980 Kansas City Royals season|Kansas City Royals]] || {{sortname|Jim|Frey}}
|align="center"| 3–0
| [[1980 New York Yankees season|New York Yankees]] || {{sortname|Dick|Howser}}
| [[Frank White (baseball)|Frank White]], Kansas City
|- 
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[1981 American League Championship Series|1981]]
| [[1981 New York Yankees season|New York Yankees]] || {{sortname|Bob|Lemon}}
|align="center"| 3–0
| [[1981 Oakland Athletics season|Oakland Athletics]] || {{sortname|Billy|Martin}}
| [[Graig Nettles]], New York
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[1982 American League Championship Series|1982]]
| [[1982 Milwaukee Brewers season|Milwaukee Brewers]] || {{sortname|Harvey|Kuenn}}
|align="center"| 3–2
| [[1982 California Angels season|California Angels]] || {{sortname|Gene|Mauch}}
| [[Fred Lynn]], California*
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[1983 American League Championship Series|1983]]
| [[1983 Baltimore Orioles season|Baltimore Orioles]] || {{sortname|Joe|Altobelli}}
|align="center"| 3–1
| [[1983 Chicago White Sox season|Chicago White Sox]] || {{sortname|Tony|La Russa}}
| [[Mike Boddicker]], Baltimore
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[1984 American League Championship Series|1984]]
| [[1984 Detroit Tigers season|Detroit Tigers]] || {{sortname|Sparky|Anderson}}
|align="center"| 3–0
| [[1984 Kansas City Royals season|Kansas City Royals]] || {{sortname|Dick|Howser}}
| [[Kirk Gibson]], Detroit
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[1985 American League Championship Series|1985]]
| [[1985 Kansas City Royals season|Kansas City Royals]] || {{sortname|Dick|Howser}}
|align="center"| 4–3
| [[1985 Toronto Blue Jays season|Toronto Blue Jays]] || {{sortname|Bobby|Cox}}
| [[George Brett (baseball)|George Brett]], Kansas City
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[1986 American League Championship Series|1986]]
| [[1986 Boston Red Sox season|Boston Red Sox]] || {{sortname|John|McNamara|John McNamara (baseball)}}
|align="center"| 4–3
| [[1986 California Angels season|California Angels]] || {{sortname|Gene|Mauch}}
| [[Marty Barrett (second baseman)|Marty Barrett]], Boston
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[1987 American League Championship Series|1987]]
| [[1987 Minnesota Twins season|Minnesota Twins]] || {{sortname|Tom|Kelly|Tom Kelly (baseball)}}
|align="center"| 4–1
| [[1987 Detroit Tigers season|Detroit Tigers]] || {{sortname|Sparky|Anderson}}
| [[Gary Gaetti]], Minnesota
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[1988 American League Championship Series|1988]]
| [[1988 Oakland Athletics season|Oakland Athletics]] || {{sortname|Tony|La Russa}}
|align="center"| 4–0
| [[1988 Boston Red Sox season|Boston Red Sox]] || {{sortname|Joe|Morgan|Joe Morgan (manager)}}
| [[Dennis Eckersley]], Oakland
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[1989 American League Championship Series|1989]]
| [[1989 Oakland Athletics season|Oakland Athletics]] || {{sortname|Tony|La Russa}}
|align="center"| 4–1
| [[1989 Toronto Blue Jays season|Toronto Blue Jays]] || {{sortname|Cito|Gaston}}
| [[Rickey Henderson]], Oakland
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[1990 American League Championship Series|1990]]
| [[1990 Oakland Athletics season|Oakland Athletics]] || {{sortname|Tony|La Russa}}
|align="center"| 4–0
| [[1990 Boston Red Sox season|Boston Red Sox]] || {{sortname|Joe|Morgan|Joe Morgan (manager)}}
| [[Dave Stewart (baseball player)|Dave Stewart]], Oakland
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[1991 American League Championship Series|1991]]
| [[1991 Minnesota Twins season|Minnesota Twins]] || {{sortname|Tom|Kelly|Tom Kelly (baseball)}}
|align="center"| 4–1
| [[1991 Toronto Blue Jays season|Toronto Blue Jays]] || {{sortname|Cito|Gaston}}
| [[Kirby Puckett]], Minnesota
|- 
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[1992 American League Championship Series|1992]]
| [[1992 Toronto Blue Jays season|Toronto Blue Jays]] || {{sortname|Cito|Gaston}}
|align="center"| 4–2
| [[1992 Oakland Athletics season|Oakland Athletics]] || {{sortname|Tony|La Russa}}
| [[Roberto Alomar]], Toronto
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[1993 American League Championship Series|1993]]
| [[1993 Toronto Blue Jays season|Toronto Blue Jays]] || {{sortname|Cito|Gaston}}
|align="center"| 4–2
| [[1993 Chicago White Sox season|Chicago White Sox]] || {{sortname|Gene|Lamont}}
| [[Dave Stewart (baseball player)|Dave Stewart]], Toronto
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[1994–95 Major League Baseball strike|1994]]
| colspan="6" align="center" |No Series due to [[1994–95 Major League Baseball strike|a players' strike]].
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[1995 American League Championship Series|1995]]
| [[1995 Cleveland Indians season|Cleveland Indians]] || {{sortname|Mike|Hargrove}}
|align="center"| 4–2
| [[1995 Seattle Mariners season|Seattle Mariners]] || {{sortname|Lou|Piniella}}
| [[Orel Hershiser]], Cleveland
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[1996 American League Championship Series|1996]]
| [[1996 New York Yankees season|New York Yankees]] || {{sortname|Joe|Torre}}
|align="center"| 4–1
| [[1996 Baltimore Orioles season|Baltimore Orioles]]{{sup|{{dagger}}}} || {{sortname|Davey|Johnson}}
| [[Bernie Williams]], New York
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[1997 American League Championship Series|1997]]
| [[1997 Cleveland Indians season|Cleveland Indians]] || {{sortname|Mike|Hargrove}}
|align="center"| 4–2
| [[1997 Baltimore Orioles season|Baltimore Orioles]] || {{sortname|Davey|Johnson}}
| [[Marquis Grissom]], Cleveland
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[1998 American League Championship Series|1998]]
| [[1998 New York Yankees season|New York Yankees]] || {{sortname|Joe|Torre}}
|align="center"| 4–2
| [[1998 Cleveland Indians season|Cleveland Indians]] || {{sortname|Mike|Hargrove}}
| [[David Wells]], New York
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[1999 American League Championship Series|1999]]
| [[1999 New York Yankees season|New York Yankees]] || {{sortname|Joe|Torre}}
|align="center"| 4–1
| [[1999 Boston Red Sox season|Boston Red Sox]]{{sup|{{dagger}}}} || {{sortname|Jimy|Williams}}
| [[Orlando Hernández]], New York
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[2000 American League Championship Series|2000]]
| [[2000 New York Yankees season|New York Yankees]] || {{sortname|Joe|Torre}}
|align="center"| 4–2
| [[2000 Seattle Mariners season|Seattle Mariners]]{{sup|{{dagger}}}} || {{sortname|Lou|Piniella}}
| [[David Justice]], New York
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[2001 American League Championship Series|2001]]
| [[2001 New York Yankees season|New York Yankees]] || {{sortname|Joe|Torre}}
|align="center"| 4–1
| [[2001 Seattle Mariners season|Seattle Mariners]] || {{sortname|Lou|Piniella}}
| [[Andy Pettitte]], New York
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[2002 American League Championship Series|2002]]
| [[2002 Anaheim Angels season|Anaheim Angels]]{{sup|{{dagger}}}} || {{sortname|Mike|Scioscia}}
|align="center"| 4–1
| [[2002 Minnesota Twins season|Minnesota Twins]] || {{sortname|Ron|Gardenhire}}
| [[Adam Kennedy]], Anaheim
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[2003 American League Championship Series|2003]]
| [[2003 New York Yankees season|New York Yankees]] || {{sortname|Joe|Torre}}
|align="center"| 4–3
| [[2003 Boston Red Sox season|Boston Red Sox]]{{sup|{{dagger}}}} || {{sortname|Grady|Little}}
| [[Mariano Rivera]], New York
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[2004 American League Championship Series|2004]]
| [[2004 Boston Red Sox season|Boston Red Sox]]{{sup|{{dagger}}}} || {{sortname|Terry|Francona}}
|align="center"| 4–3
| [[2004 New York Yankees season|New York Yankees]] || {{sortname|Joe|Torre}}
| [[David Ortiz]], Boston
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[2005 American League Championship Series|2005]]
| [[2005 Chicago White Sox season|Chicago White Sox]] || {{sortname|Ozzie|Guillén}}
|align="center"| 4–1
| [[2005 Los Angeles Angels season|Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim]] || {{sortname|Mike|Scioscia}}
| [[Paul Konerko]], Chicago
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[2006 American League Championship Series|2006]]
| [[2006 Detroit Tigers season|Detroit Tigers]]{{sup|{{dagger}}}} || {{sortname|Jim|Leyland}}
|align="center"| 4–0
| [[2006 Oakland Athletics season|Oakland Athletics]] || {{sortname|Ken|Macha}}
| [[Plácido Polanco]], Detroit
|- 
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[2007 American League Championship Series|2007]]
| [[2007 Boston Red Sox season|Boston Red Sox]] || {{sortname|Terry|Francona}}
|align="center"| 4–3
| [[2007 Cleveland Indians season|Cleveland Indians]] || {{sortname|Eric|Wedge}}
| [[Josh Beckett]], Boston
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[2008 American League Championship Series|2008]]
| [[2008 Tampa Bay Rays season|Tampa Bay Rays]] || {{sortname|Joe|Maddon}}
|align="center"| 4–3
| [[2008 Boston Red Sox season|Boston Red Sox]]{{sup|{{dagger}}}} || {{sortname|Terry|Francona}}
| [[Matt Garza]], Tampa Bay
|- 
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[2009 American League Championship Series|2009]]
| [[2009 New York Yankees season|New York Yankees]] || {{sortname|Joe|Girardi}}
|align="center"| 4–2
| [[2009 Los Angeles Angels season|Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim]] || {{sortname|Mike|Scioscia}}
| [[CC Sabathia]], New York
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[2010 American League Championship Series|2010]]
| [[2010 Texas Rangers season|Texas Rangers]] || {{sortname|Ron|Washington}}
|align="center"| 4–2
| [[2010 New York Yankees season|New York Yankees]]{{sup|{{dagger}}}} || {{sortname|Joe|Girardi}}
| [[Josh Hamilton]], Texas
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[2011 American League Championship Series|2011]]
| [[2011 Texas Rangers season|Texas Rangers]] || {{sortname|Ron|Washington}}
|align="center"| 4–2
| [[2011 Detroit Tigers season|Detroit Tigers]] || {{sortname|Jim|Leyland}}
| [[Nelson Cruz]], Texas
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[2012 American League Championship Series|2012]]
| [[2012 Detroit Tigers season|Detroit Tigers]] || {{sortname|Jim|Leyland}}
|align="center"| 4–0
| [[2012 New York Yankees season|New York Yankees]] || {{sortname|Joe|Girardi}}
| [[Delmon Young]], Detroit
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[2013 American League Championship Series|2013]]
| [[2013 Boston Red Sox season|Boston Red Sox]] || {{sortname|John|Farrell|John Farrell (manager)}}
|align="center"| 4–2
| [[2013 Detroit Tigers season|Detroit Tigers]] || {{sortname|Jim|Leyland}}
| [[Koji Uehara]], Boston
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[2014 American League Championship Series|2014]]
| [[2014 Kansas City Royals season|Kansas City Royals]]{{sup|{{dagger}}}} || {{sortname|Ned|Yost}}
|align="center"| 4–0
| [[2014 Baltimore Orioles season|Baltimore Orioles]] || {{sortname|Buck|Showalter}}
| [[Lorenzo Cain]], Kansas City
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[2015 American League Championship Series|2015]]
| [[2015 Kansas City Royals season|Kansas City Royals]] || {{sortname|Ned|Yost}}
|align="center"| 4–2
| [[2015 Toronto Blue Jays season|Toronto Blue Jays]] || {{sortname|John|Gibbons}}
| [[Alcides Escobar]], Kansas City
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[2016 American League Championship Series|2016]]
| [[2016 Cleveland Indians season|Cleveland Indians]] || {{sortname|Terry|Francona}}
|align="center"| 4–1
| [[2016 Toronto Blue Jays season|Toronto Blue Jays]]{{sup|{{dagger}}}} || {{sortname|John|Gibbons}}
| [[Andrew Miller (baseball)|Andrew Miller]], Cleveland
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[2017 American League Championship Series|2017]]
| [[2017 Houston Astros season | Houston Astros]] || {{sortname|A. J.|Hinch}}
|align="center"| 4–3
| [[2017 New York Yankees season | New York Yankees]]{{sup|{{dagger}}}} || {{sortname|Joe|Girardi}}
| [[Justin Verlander]], Houston 
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[2018 American League Championship Series|2018]]
| [[2018 Boston Red Sox season| Boston Red Sox]] || {{sortname|Alex|Cora}}
|align="center"| 4–1
| [[2018 Houston Astros season| Houston Astros]] || {{sortname|A. J.|Hinch}}
| [[Jackie Bradley Jr.]], Boston
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[2019 American League Championship Series|2019]]
| [[2019 Houston Astros season | Houston Astros]] || {{sortname|A. J.|Hinch}}
|align="center"| 4–2
| [[2019 New York Yankees season | New York Yankees]] || {{sortname|Aaron|Boone}} 
| [[Jose Altuve]], Houston
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[2020 American League Championship Series|2020]]
| [[2020 Tampa Bay Rays season|Tampa Bay Rays]] || {{sortname|Kevin|Cash}}
|align="center"| 4–3
| [[2020 Houston Astros season|Houston Astros]] {{sup|{{dagger}}}}|| {{sortname|Dusty|Baker}} 
| [[Randy Arozarena]], Tampa Bay
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[2021 American League Championship Series|2021]]
| [[2021 Houston Astros season | Houston Astros]] || {{sortname|Dusty|Baker}} 
|align="center"| 4–2
| [[2021 Boston Red Sox season|Boston Red Sox]]{{sup|{{dagger}}}} || {{sortname|Alex|Cora}}
| [[Yordan Alvarez]], Houston
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[2022 American League Championship Series|2022]]
|[[2022 Houston Astros season|Houston Astros]] || {{sortname|Dusty|Baker}} 
|align="center"| 4–0 
| [[2022 New York Yankees season | New York Yankees]] || {{sortname|Aaron|Boone}}
| [[Jeremy Peña]], Houston
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[2023 American League Championship Series|2023]]
|[[2023 Texas Rangers season|Texas Rangers]]{{sup|{{dagger}}}} || {{sortname|Bruce|Bochy}}
|align="center"| 4–3 
| [[2023 Houston Astros season|Houston Astros]] || {{sortname|Dusty|Baker}}
| [[Adolis García]], Texas
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[2024 American League Championship Series|2024]]
| [[2024 New York Yankees season|New York Yankees]] || {{sortname|Aaron|Boone}} 
|align="center"| 4–1
| [[2024 Cleveland Guardians season|Cleveland Guardians]] || {{sortname|Stephen|Vogt}}
| [[Giancarlo Stanton]], New York
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[2025 American League Championship Series|2025]]
| [[2025 Toronto Blue Jays season|Toronto Blue Jays]] || {{sortname|John|Schneider|John Schneider (baseball)}}
|align="center"| 4–3
| [[2025 Seattle Mariners season|Seattle Mariners]] || {{sortname|Dan|Wilson|Dan Wilson (catcher)}} 
| [[Vladimir Guerrero Jr.]], Toronto
|}
===Appearances by team===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:1.00em; line-height:1.5em;"
|-
!Apps
!Team
!Wins
!Losses
!Win %
!Most recent<br>win
!Most recent<br>appearance
!Games<br>won
!Games<br>lost
!Game<br>win %
|-
||19 || style="text-align:left;" |[[New York Yankees]]||12||7||{{winpct|12|7}}||2024||2024||54||45||{{winpct|54|45}}
|-
||12|| style="text-align:left;" |[[Boston Red Sox]]||6||6||{{winpct|6|6}}||2018||2021||32||36||{{winpct|32|36}}
|-
||11|| style="text-align:left;" |[[Oakland Athletics|Athletics]]||6||5||{{winpct|6|5}}||1990||2006||23||23||{{winpct|23|23}}
|-
||10|| style="text-align:left;" |[[Baltimore Orioles]]||5||5||{{winpct|5|5}}||1983||2014||21||20||{{winpct|21|20}}
|-
||8|| style="text-align:left;" |[[Kansas City Royals]]||4||4||{{winpct|4|4}}||2015||2015||20||17||{{winpct|20|17}}
|-
||8|| style="text-align:left;" |[[Toronto Blue Jays]]||3||5||{{winpct|3|5}}||2025||2025||20||27||{{winpct|20|27}}
|-
||7|| style="text-align:left;" |[[Detroit Tigers]]||3||4||{{winpct|3|4}}||2012||2013||18||15||{{winpct|18|15}}
|-
||7|| style="text-align:left;" |[[Houston Astros]]||4||3||{{winpct|4|3}}||2022||2023||23||19||{{winpct|23|19}}
|-
||6|| style="text-align:left;" |[[Los Angeles Angels]]||1||5||{{winpct|1|5}}||2002||2009||13||19||{{winpct|13|19}}
|-
||6|| style="text-align:left;" |[[Cleveland Indians]]||3||3||{{winpct|3|3}}||2016||2024||18||17||{{winpct|18|17}}
|-
||5|| style="text-align:left;" |[[Minnesota Twins]]||2||3||{{winpct|2|3}}||1991||2002||9||12||{{winpct|9|12}}
|-
||4|| style="text-align:left;" |[[Seattle Mariners]]||0||4||{{winpct|0|4}}||Never||2025||8||16||{{winpct|8|16}}
|-
||3|| style="text-align:left;" |[[Chicago White Sox]]||1||2||{{winpct|1|2}}||2005||2005||7||8||{{winpct|7|8}}
|-
||3|| style="text-align:left;" |[[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]]||3||0||{{winpct|3|0}}||2023||2023||12||7||{{winpct|12|7}}
|-
||2|| style="text-align:left;" |[[Tampa Bay Rays]]||2||0||{{winpct|2|0}}||2020||2020||8||6||{{winpct|8|6}}
|-
||1|| style="text-align:left;" |[[Milwaukee Brewers]]{{efn|name=MIL|The Milwaukee Brewers moved to the [[National League (division)|National League]] in 1998.}} ||1||0||{{winpct|1|0}}||1982||1982||3||2||{{winpct|3|2}}
|}

===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.
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="font-size:1.00em; line-height:1.5em;"
!scope="col"|{{Abbr|Apps|Appearances}}
!scope="col"|Team
!scope="col"|Wins
!scope="col"|Losses
!scope="col"|Win %
!scope="col" class="unsortable"| Season(s)
|-
||19|| style="text-align:left;" |[[New York Yankees]]||12||7||{{winpct|12|7}}|| align="left" | '''[[1976 American League Championship Series|1976]]''', '''[[1977 American League Championship Series|1977]]''', '''[[1978 American League Championship Series|1978]]''', [[1980 American League Championship Series|1980]], '''[[1981 American League Championship Series|1981]]''', '''[[1996 American League Championship Series|1996]]''', '''[[1998 American League Championship Series|1998]]''', '''[[1999 American League Championship Series|1999]]''', '''[[2000 American League Championship Series|2000]]''', '''[[2001 American League Championship Series|2001]]''', '''[[2003 American League Championship Series|2003]]''', [[2004 American League Championship Series|2004]],  '''[[2009 American League Championship Series|2009]]''', [[2010 American League Championship Series|2010]], [[2012 American League Championship Series|2012]], [[2017 American League Championship Series|2017]], [[2019 American League Championship Series|2019]], [[2022 American League Championship Series|2022]], '''[[2024 American League Championship Series|2024]]'''
|-
||12|| style="text-align:left;" |[[Boston Red Sox]]||6||6||{{winpct|6|6}}|| align="left" | '''[[1975 American League Championship Series|1975]]''', '''[[1986 American League Championship Series|1986]]''', [[1988 American League Championship Series|1988]], [[1990 American League Championship Series|1990]],  [[1999 American League Championship Series|1999]], [[2003 American League Championship Series|2003]], '''[[2004 American League Championship Series|2004]]''', '''[[2007 American League Championship Series|2007]]''', [[2008 American League Championship Series|2008]], '''[[2013 American League Championship Series|2013]]''', '''[[2018 American League Championship Series|2018]]''', [[2021 American League Championship Series|2021]]
|-
||11|| style="text-align:left;" |[[Oakland Athletics|Athletics]]||6||5||{{winpct|6|5}}|| align="left" | [[1971 American League Championship Series|1971]], '''[[1972 American League Championship Series|1972]]''', '''[[1973 American League Championship Series|1973]]''', '''[[1974 American League Championship Series|1974]]''', [[1975 American League Championship Series|1975]], [[1981 American League Championship Series|1981]], '''[[1988 American League Championship Series|1988]]''', '''[[1989 American League Championship Series|1989]]''', '''[[1990 American League Championship Series|1990]]''', [[1992 American League Championship Series|1992]], [[2006 American League Championship Series|2006]]
|-
||10|| style="text-align:left;" |[[Baltimore Orioles]]||5||5||{{winpct|5|5}}|| align="left" | '''[[1969 American League Championship Series|1969]]''', '''[[1970 American League Championship Series|1970]]''', '''[[1971 American League Championship Series|1971]]''', [[1973 American League Championship Series|1973]], [[1974 American League Championship Series|1974]], '''[[1979 American League Championship Series|1979]]''', '''[[1983 American League Championship Series|1983]]''', [[1996 American League Championship Series|1996]], [[1997 American League Championship Series|1997]], [[2014 American League Championship Series|2014]]
|-
||8|| style="text-align:left;" |[[Kansas City Royals]]||4||4||{{winpct|4|4}}|| align="left" | [[1976 American League Championship Series|1976]], [[1977 American League Championship Series|1977]], [[1978 American League Championship Series|1978]], '''[[1980 American League Championship Series|1980]]''', [[1984 American League Championship Series|1984]], '''[[1985 American League Championship Series|1985]]''', '''[[2014 American League Championship Series|2014]]''', '''[[2015 American League Championship Series|2015]]'''
|-
||7|| style="text-align:left;" |[[Houston Astros]]||4||3||{{winpct|4|3}}|| align="left" |'''[[2017 American League Championship Series|2017]]''', [[2018 American League Championship Series|2018]], '''[[2019 American League Championship Series|2019]]''', [[2020 American League Championship Series|2020]], '''[[2021 American League Championship Series|2021]]''', '''[[2022 American League Championship Series|2022]]''', [[2023 American League Championship Series|2023]]
|-
||8|| style="text-align:left;" |[[Toronto Blue Jays]]||3||5||{{winpct|3|5}}|| align="left" |[[1985 American League Championship Series|1985]], [[1989 American League Championship Series|1989]], [[1991 American League Championship Series|1991]], '''[[1992 American League Championship Series|1992]]''', '''[[1993 American League Championship Series|1993]]''', [[2015 American League Championship Series|2015]], [[2016 American League Championship Series|2016]], '''[[2025 American League Championship Series|2025]]'''
|-
||7|| style="text-align:left;" |[[Detroit Tigers]]||3||4||{{winpct|3|4}}|| align="left" | [[1972 American League Championship Series|1972]], '''[[1984 American League Championship Series|1984]]''', [[1987 American League Championship Series|1987]], '''[[2006 American League Championship Series|2006]]''', [[2011 American League Championship Series|2011]], '''[[2012 American League Championship Series|2012]]''', [[2013 American League Championship Series|2013]]
|-
||6|| style="text-align:left;" |[[Cleveland Indians]]||3||3||{{winpct|3|3}}|| align="left" | '''[[1995 American League Championship Series|1995]]''', '''[[1997 American League Championship Series|1997]]''', [[1998 American League Championship Series|1998]], [[2007 American League Championship Series|2007]], '''[[2016 American League Championship Series|2016]]''', [[2024 American League Championship Series|2024]]
|-
||3|| style="text-align:left;" |[[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]]||3||0||{{winpct|3|0}}|| align="left" | '''[[2010 American League Championship Series|2010]]''', '''[[2011 American League Championship Series|2011]]''', '''[[2023 American League Championship Series|2023]]'''
|-
||5|| style="text-align:left;" |[[Minnesota Twins]]||2||3||{{winpct|2|3}}|| align="left" | [[1969 American League Championship Series|1969]], [[1970 American League Championship Series|1970]], '''[[1987 American League Championship Series|1987]]''', '''[[1991 American League Championship Series|1991]]''', [[2002 American League Championship Series|2002]]
|-
||2|| style="text-align:left;" |[[Tampa Bay Rays]]||2||0||{{winpct|2|0}}|| align="left" |'''[[2008 American League Championship Series|2008]]''', '''[[2020 American League Championship Series|2020]]'''
|-
||6|| style="text-align:left;" |[[Los Angeles Angels]]||1||5||{{winpct|1|5}}|| align="left" | [[1979 American League Championship Series|1979]], [[1982 American League Championship Series|1982]], [[1986 American League Championship Series|1986]], '''[[2002 American League Championship Series|2002]]''', [[2005 American League Championship Series|2005]], [[2009 American League Championship Series|2009]]
|-
||3|| style="text-align:left;" |[[Chicago White Sox]]||1||2||{{winpct|1|2}}|| align="left" | [[1983 American League Championship Series|1983]], [[1993 American League Championship Series|1993]], '''[[2005 American League Championship Series|2005]]'''
|-
||1|| style="text-align:left;" |[[Milwaukee Brewers]]{{efn|name=MIL}} ||1||0||{{winpct|1|0}}|| align="left" |'''[[1982 American League Championship Series|1982]]'''
|-
||4|| style="text-align:left;" |[[Seattle Mariners]]||0||4||{{winpct|0|4}}|| align="left" | [[1995 American League Championship Series|1995]], [[2000 American League Championship Series|2000]], [[2001 American League Championship Series|2001]], [[2025 American League Championship Series|2025]]
|}

===Recurring matchups===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:1.00em; line-height:1.5em;"
|-
! Count
! Matchup
! Record
! Years
|-
|align="center"| 4
| [[Kansas City Royals]] vs. [[New York Yankees]]
| Yankees, 3–1
| [[1976 American League Championship Series|1976]], [[1977 American League Championship Series|1977]], [[1978 American League Championship Series|1978]], [[1980 American League Championship Series|1980]]
|-
|align="center"| 3
| [[Baltimore Orioles]] vs. [[Oakland Athletics|Athletics]]
| Athletics, 2–1
| [[1971 American League Championship Series|1971]], [[1973 American League Championship Series|1973]], [[1974 American League Championship Series|1974]]
|-
|align="center"| 3
| [[Boston Red Sox]] vs. [[Oakland Athletics|Athletics]]
| Athletics, 2–1
| [[1975 American League Championship Series|1975]], [[1988 American League Championship Series|1988]], [[1990 American League Championship Series|1990]]
|-
|align="center"| [[Yankees–Red Sox rivalry|3]]
| [[Boston Red Sox]] vs. [[New York Yankees]]
| Yankees, 2–1
| [[1999 American League Championship Series|1999]], [[2003 American League Championship Series|2003]], [[2004 American League Championship Series|2004]]
|-
|align="center"| 3
| [[Houston Astros]] vs. [[New York Yankees]]
| Astros, 3–0
| [[2017 American League Championship Series|2017]], [[2019 American League Championship Series|2019]], [[2022 American League Championship Series|2022]]
|-
|align="center"| 2
| [[Baltimore Orioles]] vs. [[Minnesota Twins]]
| Orioles, 2–0
| [[1969 American League Championship Series|1969]], [[1970 American League Championship Series|1970]]
|-
|align="center"| 2
| [[Oakland Athletics|Athletics]] vs. [[Toronto Blue Jays]]
| Tied, 1–1
| [[1989 American League Championship Series|1989]], [[1992 American League Championship Series|1992]]
|-
|align="center"| 2
| [[New York Yankees]] vs. [[Seattle Mariners]]
| Yankees, 2–0
| [[2000 American League Championship Series|2000]], [[2001 American League Championship Series|2001]]
|-
|align="center"| 2
| [[Detroit Tigers]] vs. [[Oakland Athletics|Athletics]]
| Tied, 1–1
| [[1972 American League Championship Series|1972]], [[2006 American League Championship Series|2006]]
|-
|align="center"| 2
| [[Kansas City Royals]] vs. [[Toronto Blue Jays]]
| Royals, 2–0
| [[1985 American League Championship Series|1985]], [[2015 American League Championship Series|2015]]
|-
|align="center"| 2
| [[Boston Red Sox]] vs. [[Houston Astros]]
| Tied, 1–1
| [[2018 American League Championship Series|2018]], [[2021 American League Championship Series|2021]]
|-
|align="center"| 2
| [[Cleveland Guardians]] vs. [[New York Yankees]]
| Yankees, 2–0
| [[1998 American League Championship Series|1998]], [[2024 American League Championship Series|2024]]

|}

==See also==
{{Portal|Baseball}}
*[[List of American League pennant winners]]
*[[List of American League Wild Card winners]]
*[[American League Division Series]]
*[[National League Championship Series]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.baseball-almanac.com/League_Championship_Series.shtml League Championship Series History] at [[Baseball Almanac]]
* [https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/ World Series and MLB Playoffs] at [[Baseball-Reference.com]]
* [https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/MISC/masterPS.htm Post-Season Games Directory] at [[Retrosheet]]

{{MLB}}
{{ALCS}}
{{American League}}

[[Category:American League Championship Series| ]]
[[Category:Recurring sporting events established in 1969]]
[[Category:Annual events in Major League Baseball]]