1996 American League Championship Series

The 1996 American League Championship Series (ALCS), the second round of the 1996 American League playoffs, matched the Eastern Division champion New York Yankees against the Wild Card team, the Baltimore Orioles. The Yankees had the home field advantage; the advantage was predetermined, and assigned to the Central Division champion or their opponent in the previous round unless that opponent was the wild card team and was victorious (the wild card team was then prohibited from having home field advantage in any round of the AL playoffs).

Background

The two teams were victorious in the AL Division Series (ALDS), with the Yankees defeating the Western Division champion Texas Rangers 3 games to 1, and the Orioles defeating the Central Division champion Cleveland Indians 3 games to 1. The Yankees won the series 4 games to 1 to become the American League champions, and won against the National League champion Atlanta Braves in the 1996 World Series.

Summary

Baltimore Orioles vs. New York Yankees

New York wins the series, 4-1

Game	Score	Date	Location	Attendance
1	Baltimore Orioles - 4, New York Yankees - 5 (11 innings)	October 9	Yankee Stadium	56,495
2	Baltimore Orioles - 5, New York Yankees - 3	October 10	Yankee Stadium	58,432
3	New York Yankees - 5, Baltimore Orioles - 2	October 11	Oriole Park at Camden Yards	48,635
4	New York Yankees - 8, Baltimore Orioles - 4	October 12	Oriole Park at Camden Yards	48,974
5	New York Yankees - 6, Baltimore Orioles - 4	October 13	Oriole Park at Camden Yards	48,718

Game summaries

Game 1

Wednesday, October 9, 1996 at Yankee Stadium in New York, New York

The series' first game is notable for an incident in which a young fan named Jeffrey Maier reached over the railing and caught a fly ball, turning an out into a home run.

Game 2

Thursday, October 10, 1996 at Yankee Stadium in New York, New York

Game 3

Friday, October 11, 1996 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland

Game 4

Saturday, October 12, 1996 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland

Game 5

Sunday, October 13, 1996 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland

Composite Box

1996 ALCS (4-1): New York Yankees over Baltimore Orioles

See also

• Jeffrey Maier

Quotes of the Series

• A bouncer to deep short, [Derek] Jeter...long throw...diving is Cal [Ripken] but he can't get there in time! And the Yankees win the pennant! - Bob Costas, calling the final out.

• Tarasco, going back to the track, to the wall...(Maier steals ball) AND WHAT HAPPENS HERE? HE CONTENDS THAT A FAN REACHES UP AND TOUCHES IT! BUT RICHIE GARCIA SAYS NO...It's a home run! Here comes Davey Johnson, out to argue as Jeter comes across to tie the game. - Bob Costas calls the controversial Jeter home run in Game 1.

• And here's a drive to left. IT'S MIGHTY HIGH, IT'S MIGHTY FAR...AND GOODNIGHT! -- Bob Costas calling Bernie Williams' walk-off home run off Randy Myers to end Game 1.

Notes

External links

• Baseball-Reference.com - 1996 ALCS