1991 American League Championship Series

The 1991 American League Championship Series was played between the Minnesota Twins and the Toronto Blue Jays from October 8 to 13. The Twins defeated the favored Blue Jays, winning the Series four games to one. Minnesota would go on to face (and ultimately defeat) the Atlanta Braves in the 1991 World Series, ranked by ESPN as the greatest ever played.

This was the first postseason series played entirely indoors, as both teams played in domed stadiums.

Minnesota outfielder Kirby Puckett was named the Series MVP, based on his .429 batting average, two home runs, and five RBI.

Background

The Twins rose from last place in 1990 (a 74-88 record) and finished the 1991 regular season with a 95–67 record (.586), handily winning the American League West division crown by eight games over the Chicago White Sox. The Blue Jays were similarly successful during the 1991 season, compiling a 91–71 record (.562) and winning the American League East division by seven games over the Boston Red Sox and Detroit Tigers. The Twins and Blue Jays played their final regular season series against each other (after both teams had clinched their respective divisions and were resting their starters), with the Blue Jays winning two of the three games. Newspapers were predicting a series of tense and close contests in the following ALCS.

2013 American League Championship Series

The 2013 American League Championship Series was a best-of-seven playoff pitting the Boston Red Sox against the Detroit Tigers for the American League pennant and the right to play in the 2013 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals. The Red Sox won the series 4 games to 2. The series was the 44th in league history, and was the first postseason meeting between the two teams. Fox aired all games in the United States.

Koji Uehara was the series MVP.

To reach the 2013 ALCS, the Red Sox (East Division champions, 97–65) defeated the AL Wild Card Game-winning Tampa Bay Rays in the ALDS, 3 games to 1. The Tigers (Central Division champions, 93–69) defeated the AL West Champion Oakland Athletics in the ALDS, 3 games to 2.

Summary

Boston Red Sox vs. Detroit Tigers

Boston won the series, 4–2.

Game summaries

Game 1

Saturday, October 12, 2013 – 8:07 p.m. (EDT) at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts

Five Tiger pitchers (Aníbal Sánchez, Al Alburquerque, José Veras, Drew Smyly and Joaquín Benoit) combined to strike out 17 and hold the Red Sox hitless for 8.3333333333333 !8¹⁄₃ innings. Starter Sánchez struck out 12 and walked six through six shutout innings, but was lifted after throwing 116 pitches. Daniel Nava broke up the no-hitter with a one-out single in the ninth off Benoit. He was then lifted for a pinch-runner, former Tiger Quintin Berry, who stole second base with two outs but was stranded there when Xander Bogaerts popped to shortstop to end the game. Benoit lost the no-hitter, but he earned the save, and the Tigers held on to win 1–0. The only run of the game scored in the sixth when Jhonny Peralta, the only player with multiple hits in the game (three), drove in Miguel Cabrera with an RBI single.

1986 American League Championship Series

The 1986 American League Championship Series was a back-and-forth battle between the Boston Red Sox and the California Angels for the right to advance to the 1986 World Series to face the winner of the 1986 National League Championship Series. The Red Sox came in with a 95–66 record and the AL East division title, while the Angels went 92–70 during the regular season to win the AL West.

Summary

Boston Red Sox vs. California Angels

Boston won the series, 4–3.

Game summaries

Game 1

Tuesday, October 7, 1986 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts

Angels left fielder Brian Downing went 2-for-5 with four RBI and Mike Witt pitched a five-hit complete game, as California cruised to an 8–1 win.

Game 2

Wednesday, October 8, 1986 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts

The next day, the tables were turned. Bill Buckner scored the winning run in the fifth inning on a Dwight Evans double, and the Red Sox tacked on insurance runs in the seventh and eighth. Boston claimed a 9–2 victory and tied the series at one game apiece.