American League Championship Series - wikipedia American League Championship Series `` ALCS '' redirects here. For other uses, see ALCS ( disambiguation ). Part of a series on the Major League Baseball postseason Tie Breakers Tie Breaker Games Wild Card Wild Card Game Division Series ALDS NLDS League Championship Series ALCS ( Winners list ) NLCS ( Winners list ) World Series List of World Series champions Commissioner 's Trophy Teams Appearances Series Streaks Droughts The American League Championship Series ( ALCS ) is a best - of - seven series played in October in the Major League Baseball postseason that determines the winner of the American League ( AL ) pennant. The winner of the series advances to play the winner of the National League ( NL ) Championship Series ( NLCS ) in the World Series, Major League Baseball 's championship series. Contents 1 History 2 Championship Trophy 3 Most Valuable Player Award 4 ALCS results ( 1969 -- present ) 4.1 ALCS appearances by team 4.2 Recurring matchups 5 See also 6 References 7 External links History It started in 1969, when the AL reorganized into two divisions, East and 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 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. In 2012, the playoffs were expanded again so that two wild card teams face off in a one - game wild card round to determine which team advances to the division series, with the playoffs then continuing as it had before 2012 ( though with the possibility of a fifth seed being in the playoffs and a fourth seed being out ) after the end of the wild card round. This is the system currently in use. 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, unless that team happens to be the Wild Card team. In that case, the other team gets home field advantage, because by rule the Wild Card team is never allowed home field advantage in a Division Series or LCS. In the event that both teams have identical records in the regular season, 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. The Milwaukee Brewers, an American League team between 1969 and 1997, and the Houston Astros are the only franchises to play in the ALCS and NLCS. The Astros are the only team to have won both the National and American League Championship Series. Championship trophy The William Harridge Trophy is awarded to the ALCS champion. The trophy 's namesake comes from the American League president from 1931 to 1959. Most Valuable Player award See : League Championship Series Most Valuable Player Award # American League winners The 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 ( 1 ) below in the section on `` ALCS results ( 1969 -- present ) '', in the `` Series MVP '' column, ( 2 ) at League Championship Series Most Valuable Player Award, and ( 3 ) on the MLB website. ALCS results ( 1969 -- present ) Further information : List of American League pennant winners § 1901 -- 1968 Click the link on the far left for detailed information on that series. Key wc Wild - card team ( since 1995 ) * MVP did not play for winning team Year Winner Loser Record Series MVP TV Network 1969 Baltimore Orioles Minnesota Twins 3 -- 0 NBC 1970 Baltimore Orioles Minnesota Twins 3 -- 0 NBC 1971 Baltimore Orioles Oakland Athletics 3 -- 0 NBC 1972 Oakland Athletics Detroit Tigers 3 -- 2 NBC 1973 Oakland Athletics Baltimore Orioles 3 -- 2 NBC Oakland Athletics Baltimore Orioles 3 -- 1 NBC Boston Red Sox Oakland Athletics 3 -- 0 NBC 1976 New York Yankees Kansas City Royals 3 -- 2 ABC 1977 New York Yankees Kansas City Royals 3 -- 2 NBC 1978 New York Yankees Kansas City Royals 3 -- 1 ABC 1979 Baltimore Orioles California Angels 3 -- 1 NBC 1980 Kansas City Royals New York Yankees 3 -- 0 Frank White, Kansas City ABC 1981 New York Yankees Oakland Athletics 3 -- 0 Graig Nettles, New York NBC 1982 Milwaukee Brewers California Angels 3 -- 2 Fred Lynn, California * ABC Baltimore Orioles Chicago White Sox 3 -- 1 Mike Boddicker, Baltimore NBC 1984 Detroit Tigers Kansas City Royals 3 -- 0 Kirk Gibson, Detroit ABC 1985 Kansas City Royals Toronto Blue Jays 4 -- 3 George Brett, Kansas City NBC 1986 Boston Red Sox California Angels 4 -- 3 Marty Barrett, Boston ABC Minnesota Twins Detroit Tigers 4 -- 1 Gary Gaetti, Minnesota NBC 1988 Oakland Athletics Boston Red Sox 4 -- 0 Dennis Eckersley, Oakland ABC 1989 Oakland Athletics Toronto Blue Jays 4 -- 1 Rickey Henderson, Oakland NBC 1990 Oakland Athletics Boston Red Sox 4 -- 0 Dave Stewart, Oakland CBS 1991 Minnesota Twins Toronto Blue Jays 4 -- 1 Kirby Puckett, Minnesota CBS 1992 Toronto Blue Jays Oakland Athletics 4 -- 2 Roberto Alomar, Toronto CBS 1993 Toronto Blue Jays Chicago White Sox 4 -- 2 Dave Stewart, Toronto CBS 1994 Series cancelled -- -- -- -- 1995 Cleveland Indians Seattle Mariners 4 -- 2 Orel Hershiser, Cleveland ABC / NBC New York Yankees Baltimore Orioles 4 -- 1 Bernie Williams, New York NBC 1997 Cleveland Indians Baltimore Orioles 4 -- 2 Marquis Grissom, Cleveland Fox 1998 New York Yankees Cleveland Indians 4 -- 2 David Wells, New York NBC 1999 New York Yankees Boston Red Sox 4 -- 1 Orlando Hernández, New York Fox 2000 New York Yankees Seattle Mariners 4 -- 2 David Justice, New York NBC 2001 New York Yankees Seattle Mariners 4 -- 1 Andy Pettitte, New York Fox 2002 Anaheim Angels Minnesota Twins 4 -- 1 Adam Kennedy, Anaheim Fox 2003 New York Yankees Boston Red Sox 4 -- 3 Mariano Rivera, New York Fox Boston Red Sox New York Yankees 4 -- 3 David Ortiz, Boston Fox 2005 Chicago White Sox Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 4 -- 1 Paul Konerko, Chicago Fox 2006 Detroit Tigers Oakland Athletics 4 -- 0 Plácido Polanco, Detroit Fox 2007 Boston Red Sox Cleveland Indians 4 -- 3 Josh Beckett, Boston Fox 2008 Tampa Bay Rays Boston Red Sox 4 -- 3 Matt Garza, Tampa Bay TBS 2009 New York Yankees Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 4 -- 2 CC Sabathia, New York Fox Texas Rangers New York Yankees 4 -- 2 Josh Hamilton, Texas TBS 2011 Texas Rangers Detroit Tigers 4 -- 2 Nelson Cruz, Texas Fox 2012 Detroit Tigers New York Yankees 4 -- 0 Delmon Young, Detroit TBS 2013 Boston Red Sox Detroit Tigers 4 -- 2 Koji Uehara, Boston Fox 2014 Kansas City Royals Baltimore Orioles 4 -- 0 Lorenzo Cain, Kansas City TBS 2015 Kansas City Royals Toronto Blue Jays 4 -- 2 Alcides Escobar, Kansas City Fox / FS1 2016 Cleveland Indians Toronto Blue Jays 4 -- 1 Andrew Miller, Cleveland TBS 2017 Houston Astros New York Yankees 4 -- 3 Justin Verlander, Houston FS1 / Fox ALCS appearances by team Series appearances Team Wins Losses Win % Most recent win Most recent appearance Games won Games lost Game win % Most recent game win 16 New York Yankees 11 5. 688 2009 2017 48 36. 571 2017 11 Oakland Athletics 6 5. 545 1990 2006 23 23. 500 1992 10 Boston Red Sox 5 5. 500 2013 2013 26 31. 456 2013 10 Baltimore Orioles 5 5. 500 2014 21 20. 512 1997 8 Kansas City Royals. 500 2015 2015 20 17. 541 2015 7 Detroit Tigers. 429 2012 2013 18 15. 545 2013 7 Toronto Blue Jays 5. 286 1993 2016 16 24. 400 2016 6 Los Angeles Angels 5. 167 2002 2009 13 19. 406 2009 5 Cleveland Indians. 600 2016 2016 17 13. 567 2016 5 Minnesota Twins. 400 1991 2002 9 12. 429 2002 Chicago White Sox. 333 2005 2005 7 8. 467 2005 Seattle Mariners 0. 000 - 2001 5 12. 294 2001 Texas Rangers 0 1.000 2011 2011 8. 667 2011 Tampa Bay Rays 0 1.000 2008 2008. 571 2008 Milwaukee Brewers 0 1.000 1982 1982. 600 1982 Houston Astros 0 1.000 2017 2017. 571 2017 Recurring matchups Count Matchup Record Years Kansas City Royals vs. New York Yankees Yankees, 3 -- 1 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980 Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees Yankees, 2 -- 1 1999, 2003, 2004 Baltimore Orioles vs. Oakland Athletics Athletics, 2 -- 1 1971, 1973, 1974 Boston Red Sox vs. Oakland Athletics Athletics, 2 -- 1 1975, 1988, 1990 Baltimore Orioles vs. Minnesota Twins Orioles, 2 -- 0 1969, 1970 Detroit Tigers vs. Oakland Athletics Tied, 1 -- 1 1972, 2006 Kansas City Royals vs. Toronto Blue Jays Royals, 2 -- 0 1985, 2015 New York Yankees vs. Seattle Mariners Yankees, 2 -- 0 2000, 2001 Oakland Athletics vs. Toronto Blue Jays Tied, 1 -- 1 1989, 1992 See also Baseball portal List of American League pennant winners American League Division Series List of American League Wild Card winners ( since 1994 ) References Jump up ^ winner. 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 ). Jump up ^ League Championship Series Most Valuable Players ( MLB.com/News/Awards/History/ ). MLB Advanced Media, L.P. Retrieved August 31, 2009. Jump up ^ `` Baseball - Reference Playoff and World Series Index ''. Baseball - Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 5, 2009. External links ALCS Boxscores and Play - by - Play at Baseball-Reference.com Major League Baseball ( 2017 ) American League East Baltimore Orioles Boston Red Sox New York Yankees Tampa Bay Rays Toronto Blue Jays Central Chicago White Sox Cleveland Indians Detroit Tigers Kansas City Royals Minnesota Twins West Houston Astros Los Angeles Angels Oakland Athletics Seattle Mariners Texas Rangers National League East Atlanta Braves Miami Marlins New York Mets Philadelphia Phillies Washington Nationals Central Chicago Cubs Cincinnati Reds Milwaukee Brewers Pittsburgh Pirates St. Louis Cardinals West Arizona Diamondbacks Colorado Rockies Los Angeles Dodgers San Diego Padres San Francisco Giants Postseason World Series Champions NL NL Champions NLCS NLDS AL AL Champions ALCS ALDS Wild Card Game Appearances Streaks Droughts Series Steroid usage Drug policy suspensions Mitchell Report Juiced Vindicated Biogenesis baseball scandal BALCO scandal Game of Shadows Barry Bonds perjury case Miscellaneous All - Star Game World Baseball Classic International games Records Awards Retired numbers Hall of Fame Executive Management Winter Meetings Hot stove league Transactions MLB drafts First year player Rule 5 Players Association TV contracts Highest paid players Luxury tax Instant replay MLB logo MLB team uniforms Minor League Baseball History AL Seasons Tie - breakers Tie - breaking procedures Rivalries Interleague play Schedule Stadiums Civil Rights Game Jackie Robinson Day Spring training Opening Day Lockouts / strikes Mascots MLB.com Timeline Timeline of Major League Baseball History of team nicknames Dead - ball era Live - ball era Golden age of baseball Relocation of the 1950s -- 60s Expansion 1961 1962 1969 1977 1993 1998 Commissioner : Rob Manfred League Presidents NL AL American League Championship Series 1969 -- 1970s 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980s -- 1990s 1980 1981 1982 1984 1985 1986 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1997 1998 1999 2000s -- 2010s 2000 2001 2002 2003 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 AL pennant winners MVPs Broadcasters American League Organization Parent league : Major League Baseball Partner league : National League Origins : ( History Western League ) Honorary president : Frank Robinson Current teams East Baltimore Orioles Boston Red Sox New York Yankees Tampa Bay Rays Toronto Blue Jays Central Chicago White Sox Cleveland Indians Detroit Tigers Kansas City Royals Minnesota Twins West Houston Astros Los Angeles Angels Oakland Athletics Seattle Mariners Texas Rangers Former, relocated, and disestablished teams Baltimore Orioles ( 1901 -- 1902 ) Kansas City Athletics ( 1955 -- 1967 ) Milwaukee Brewers I ( 1901 ) Milwaukee Brewers II ( 1970 -- 1997 ) Philadelphia Athletics ( 1901 -- 1954 ) Seattle Pilots ( 1969 ) St. Louis Browns ( 1902 -- 1953 ) Washington Senators I ( 1901 -- 1960 ) Washington Senators II ( 1961 -- 1971 ) Championship play List of champions Championship Series Division Series Wild Card winners Related articles Designated hitter Professional baseball World Series No World Series was held in 1904 because the NL champions refused to participate ; no World Series was held in 1994 due to a players ' strike. 1900s -- 1910s 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920s -- 1930s 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940s -- 1950s 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960s -- 1970s 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980s -- 1990s 1980 1981 1982 1984 1985 1986 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1997 1998 1999 2000s -- 2010s 2000 2001 2002 2003 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 See also Pre-World Series champions World Series champions Most Valuable Players Starting pitchers Babe Ruth Award Commissioner 's Trophy World Series ring Appearances Streaks Droughts Series ( by franchise ) Broadcasters TV ratings ALCS NLCS ALDS NLDS ALWC NLWC Game 7 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake Dauvray Cup Temple Cup Chronicle - Telegraph Cup Book : World Series Category : World Series Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=American_League_Championship_Series&oldid=806907325 '' Categories : American League Championship Series Recurring sporting events established in 1969 Hidden categories : Use mdy dates from October 2015 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Català Deutsch Euskara Français 한국어 Italiano Polski Simple English Suomi 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 24 October 2017, at 21 : 51. 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Question: who gets home field advantage in the alcs
Answer: the team that has the better regular season record, unless that team happens to be the Wild Card team