1991 American League Championship Series | |||||||||||||
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Teams | |||||||||||||
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Dates | October 8 – 13 | ||||||||||||
MVP | Kirby Puckett (Minnesota) | ||||||||||||
Umpires | Larry Barnett, Mark Johnson, Rocky Roe, Tim Welke, Mike Reilly, Jim McKean | ||||||||||||
Broadcast | |||||||||||||
Television | CBS | ||||||||||||
TV announcers | and Jim Kaat | ||||||||||||
Radio | CBS | ||||||||||||
Radio announcers | Jim Hunter and Johnny Bench | ||||||||||||
Team (Wins) | Manager | Season | |
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Minnesota Twins (4) | Tom Kelly | 95–67, .586, GA: 8 | |
Toronto Blue Jays (1) | Cito Gaston | 91–71, .562, GA: 7 |
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 seven games in 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.
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.
Minnesota won the series, 4–1.
Tuesday, October 8, 1991, at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota