what does alcs stand for in baseball

ALCS in baseball stands for the American League Championship Series. It is a best-of-seven playoff series that determines the champion of the American League and which team will represent the league in the World Series. The ALCS is part of Major League Baseball's postseason, played after the Division Series and before the World Series. The format has been a best-of-seven series since 1985, prior to which it was a best-of-five series. The ALCS began in 1969 when the American League split into two divisions and needed a championship series to decide who would advance to the World Series.