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National League Championship Series facts for kids

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Rocking purple, Billy Bean supports -SpiritDay at Dodger Stadium. (30337931592)
Billy Bean NLCS logo at Dodger Stadium in 2016

The National League Championship Series (NLCS) is a big baseball event. It's also called the National League Pennant. This series is a "best-of-seven" playoff, meaning two teams play up to seven games, and the first team to win four games wins the series.

The NLCS is one of the final rounds in Major League Baseball's (MLB) postseason. It happens after the regular season ends. The two best teams from the National League (NL) Division Series play against each other. The team that wins the NLCS gets the NL pennant. They then go on to play in the World Series, which is MLB's championship. There, they face the winner of the American League's (AL) Championship Series. The NLCS started in 1969 as a "best-of-five" series. This means teams played up to five games, and the first to win three games won. In 1985, it changed to the "best-of-seven" format we see today.

History of the NLCS

Before 1969, the National League champion was simply the team with the best win-loss record at the end of the regular season. Sometimes, if two teams had the same best record, they would play a special three-game series to decide the winner. This happened a few times, like in 1946, 1951, 1959, and 1962.

In 1969, baseball changed how its postseason worked. Both the National and American Leagues were split into two groups called divisions (East and West). The winners of these two divisions in each league would then play each other. This was a best-of-five series to see who would go to the World Series. In 1985, this series became a best-of-seven.

Since 1985, the NLCS (and ALCS) games are played in a special order: 2–3–2. This means the first two games are at one team's stadium. Then, the next three games are at the other team's stadium. If needed, the last two games go back to the first team's stadium. The team with the better record usually gets to play more games at home. However, a team that won their division always gets home field advantage over a Wild Card team. From 1969 to 1993, home field advantage switched between divisions each year. From 1995 to 1997, it was decided before the season started.

In 1981, there was a special "division series" because a players' strike split the season into two parts.

In 1994, the league changed again, creating three divisions. The three division winners and one "wild card" team (the best team that didn't win a division) would go to a new best-of-five round called the National League Division Series (NLDS). The winners of the NLDS then play in the best-of-seven NLCS. However, a players' strike in 1994 meant no postseason was played that year. So, the new format officially started in 1995. The playoffs grew even more in 2012 and 2022 to include more Wild Card teams.

Some managers have led their teams to the NLCS many times. Bobby Cox holds the record for the most consecutive NLCS appearances. He led the Atlanta Braves to eight straight NLCS from 1991 to 1999! The Braves are the only National League team to make more than three NLCS appearances in a row.

The Milwaukee Brewers and Houston Astros are the only teams that have played in both the ALCS and NLCS. The Astros are the only team to have won both an NLCS (in 2005) and an ALCS (in 2017, 2019, 2021, and 2022). The Astros played in the NLCS four times before moving to the American League in 2013. Every team currently in the National League has played in the NLCS. All of them, except the Brewers, have won an NL Pennant through the NLCS.

In 2022, for the first time ever, two Wild Card teams played against each other in the NLCS.

Championship Trophy

The team that wins the NLCS gets the Warren C. Giles Trophy. This trophy is named after Warren Giles, who was the president of the National League from 1951 to 1969.

Most Valuable Player Award

A special award is given to the best player in the NLCS. This is called the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award. There isn't an MVP award for the Division Series games.

Sometimes, a player from the losing team has won the MVP award. This happened twice: in 1986, Mike Scott of the Houston Astros won it, and in 1987, Jeffrey Leonard of the San Francisco Giants won it.

The National League started giving out its LCS MVP award in 1977. The American League started theirs in 1980. You can find the winners in the table below, in the "Series MVP" column.

Results of the NLCS

Key
dagger Wild card team
*
MVP did not play for winning team
Year Winning team Manager Games Losing team Manager Series MVP
1969 New York Mets Hodges, GilGil Hodges 3–0 Atlanta Braves Harris, LumLum Harris  
1970 Cincinnati Reds Anderson, SparkySparky Anderson 3–0 Pittsburgh Pirates Murtaugh, DannyDanny Murtaugh
1971 Pittsburgh Pirates Murtaugh, DannyDanny Murtaugh 3–1 San Francisco Giants Fox, CharlieCharlie Fox
1972 Cincinnati Reds Anderson, SparkySparky Anderson 3–2 Pittsburgh Pirates Virdon, BillBill Virdon
1973 New York Mets Berra, YogiYogi Berra 3–2 Cincinnati Reds Anderson, SparkySparky Anderson
1974 Los Angeles Dodgers Alston, WalterWalter Alston 3–1 Pittsburgh Pirates Murtaugh, DannyDanny Murtaugh
1975 Cincinnati Reds Anderson, SparkySparky Anderson 3–0 Pittsburgh Pirates Murtaugh, DannyDanny Murtaugh
1976 Cincinnati Reds Anderson, SparkySparky Anderson 3–0 Philadelphia Phillies Ozark, DannyDanny Ozark
1977 Los Angeles Dodgers Lasorda, TommyTommy Lasorda 3–1 Philadelphia Phillies Ozark, DannyDanny Ozark Dusty Baker, Los Angeles
1978 Los Angeles Dodgers Lasorda, TommyTommy Lasorda 3–1 Philadelphia Phillies Ozark, DannyDanny Ozark Steve Garvey, Los Angeles
1979 Pittsburgh Pirates Tanner, ChuckChuck Tanner 3–0 Cincinnati Reds McNamara, JohnJohn McNamara Willie Stargell, Pittsburgh
1980 Philadelphia Phillies Green, DallasDallas Green 3–2 Houston Astros Virdon, BillBill Virdon Manny Trillo, Philadelphia
1981 Los Angeles Dodgers Lasorda, TommyTommy Lasorda 3–2 Montreal Expos Fanning, JimJim Fanning Burt Hooton, Los Angeles
1982 St. Louis Cardinals Herzog, WhiteyWhitey Herzog 3–0 Atlanta Braves Torre, JoeJoe Torre Darrell Porter, St. Louis
1983 Philadelphia Phillies Owens, PaulPaul Owens 3–1 Los Angeles Dodgers Lasorda, TommyTommy Lasorda Gary Matthews, Philadelphia
1984 San Diego Padres Williams, DickDick Williams 3–2 Chicago Cubs Frey, JimJim Frey Steve Garvey, San Diego
1985 St. Louis Cardinals Herzog, WhiteyWhitey Herzog 4–2 Los Angeles Dodgers Lasorda, TommyTommy Lasorda Ozzie Smith, St. Louis
1986 New York Mets Johnson, DaveyDavey Johnson 4–2 Houston Astros Lanier, HalHal Lanier Mike Scott, Houston*
1987 St. Louis Cardinals Herzog, WhiteyWhitey Herzog 4–3 San Francisco Giants Craig, RogerRoger Craig Jeffrey Leonard, San Francisco*
1988 Los Angeles Dodgers Lasorda, TommyTommy Lasorda 4–3 New York Mets Johnson, DaveyDavey Johnson Orel Hershiser, Los Angeles
1989 San Francisco Giants Craig, RogerRoger Craig 4–1 Chicago Cubs Zimmer, DonDon Zimmer Will Clark, San Francisco
1990 Cincinnati Reds Piniella, LouLou Piniella 4–2 Pittsburgh Pirates Leyland, JimJim Leyland Rob Dibble and Randy Myers, Cincinnati
1991 Atlanta Braves Cox, BobbyBobby Cox 4–3 Pittsburgh Pirates Leyland, JimJim Leyland Steve Avery, Atlanta
1992 Atlanta Braves Cox, BobbyBobby Cox 4–3 Pittsburgh Pirates Leyland, JimJim Leyland John Smoltz, Atlanta
1993 Philadelphia Phillies Fregosi, JimJim Fregosi 4–2 Atlanta Braves Cox, BobbyBobby Cox Curt Schilling, Philadelphia
1994 No Series due to a players' strike.
1995 Atlanta Braves Cox, BobbyBobby Cox 4–0 Cincinnati Reds Johnson, DaveyDavey Johnson Mike Devereaux, Atlanta
1996 Atlanta Braves Cox, BobbyBobby Cox 4–3 St. Louis Cardinals La Russa, TonyTony La Russa Javy López, Atlanta
1997 Florida Marlinsdagger Leyland, JimJim Leyland 4–2 Atlanta Braves Cox, BobbyBobby Cox Liván Hernández, Florida
1998 San Diego Padres Bochy, BruceBruce Bochy 4–2 Atlanta Braves Cox, BobbyBobby Cox Sterling Hitchcock, San Diego
1999 Atlanta Braves Cox, BobbyBobby Cox 4–2 New York Metsdagger Valentine, BobbyBobby Valentine Eddie Pérez, Atlanta
2000 New York Metsdagger Valentine, BobbyBobby Valentine 4–1 St. Louis Cardinals La Russa, TonyTony La Russa Mike Hampton, New York
2001 Arizona Diamondbacks Brenly, BobBob Brenly 4–1 Atlanta Braves Cox, BobbyBobby Cox Craig Counsell, Arizona
2002 San Francisco Giantsdagger Baker, DustyDusty Baker 4–1 St. Louis Cardinals La Russa, TonyTony La Russa Benito Santiago, San Francisco
2003 Florida Marlinsdagger McKeon, JackJack McKeon 4–3 Chicago Cubs Baker, DustyDusty Baker Iván Rodríguez, Florida
2004 St. Louis Cardinals La Russa, TonyTony La Russa 4–3 Houston Astrosdagger Garner, PhilPhil Garner Albert Pujols, St. Louis
2005 Houston Astrosdagger Garner, PhilPhil Garner 4–2 St. Louis Cardinals La Russa, TonyTony La Russa Roy Oswalt, Houston
2006 St. Louis Cardinals La Russa, TonyTony La Russa 4–3 New York Mets Randolph, WillieWillie Randolph Jeff Suppan, St. Louis
2007 Colorado Rockiesdagger Hurdle, ClintClint Hurdle 4–0 Arizona Diamondbacks Melvin, BobBob Melvin Matt Holliday, Colorado
2008 Philadelphia Phillies Manuel, CharlieCharlie Manuel 4–1 Los Angeles Dodgers Torre, JoeJoe Torre Cole Hamels, Philadelphia
2009 Philadelphia Phillies Manuel, CharlieCharlie Manuel 4–1 Los Angeles Dodgers Torre, JoeJoe Torre Ryan Howard, Philadelphia
2010 San Francisco Giants Bochy, BruceBruce Bochy 4–2 Philadelphia Phillies Manuel, CharlieCharlie Manuel Cody Ross, San Francisco
2011 St. Louis Cardinalsdagger La Russa, TonyTony La Russa 4–2 Milwaukee Brewers Roenicke, RonRon Roenicke David Freese, St. Louis
2012 San Francisco Giants Bochy, BruceBruce Bochy 4–3 St. Louis Cardinalsdagger Matheny, MikeMike Matheny Marco Scutaro, San Francisco
2013 St. Louis Cardinals Matheny, MikeMike Matheny 4–2 Los Angeles Dodgers Mattingly, DonDon Mattingly Michael Wacha, St. Louis
2014 San Francisco Giantsdagger Bochy, BruceBruce Bochy 4–1 St. Louis Cardinals Matheny, MikeMike Matheny Madison Bumgarner, San Francisco
2015 New York Mets Collins, TerryTerry Collins 4–0 Chicago Cubsdagger Maddon, JoeJoe Maddon Daniel Murphy, New York
2016 Chicago Cubs Maddon, JoeJoe Maddon 4–2 Los Angeles Dodgers Roberts, DaveDave Roberts Javier Báez and Jon Lester, Chicago
2017 Los Angeles Dodgers Roberts, DaveDave Roberts 4–1 Chicago Cubs Maddon, JoeJoe Maddon Chris Taylor and Justin Turner, Los Angeles
2018 Los Angeles Dodgers Roberts, DaveDave Roberts 4–3 Milwaukee Brewers Counsell, CraigCraig Counsell Cody Bellinger, Los Angeles
2019 Washington Nationalsdagger Martinez, DaveDave Martinez 4–0 St. Louis Cardinals Shildt, MikeMike Shildt Howie Kendrick, Washington
2020 Los Angeles Dodgers Roberts, DaveDave Roberts 4–3 Atlanta Braves Snitker, BrianBrian Snitker Corey Seager, Los Angeles
2021 Atlanta Braves Snitker, BrianBrian Snitker 4–2 Los Angeles Dodgersdagger Roberts, DaveDave Roberts Eddie Rosario, Atlanta
2022 Philadelphia Philliesdagger Thomson, RobRob Thomson 4–1 San Diego Padresdagger Melvin, BobBob Melvin Bryce Harper, Philadelphia
2023 Arizona Diamondbacksdagger Lovullo, ToreyTorey Lovullo 4–3 Philadelphia Philliesdagger Thomson, RobRob Thomson Ketel Marte, Arizona

Team Appearances in the NLCS

This table shows how many times each team has appeared in the NLCS, how many times they won, and how many times they lost.

Apps Team Wins Losses Win % Most recent
win
Most recent
appearance
Games
won
Games
lost
Game
win %
15 Los Angeles Dodgers 8 7 .533 2020 2021 39 42 .481
14 St. Louis Cardinals 7 7 .500 2013 2019 38 43 .469
13 Atlanta Braves 6 7 .462 2021 2021 34 39 .466
11 Philadelphia Phillies 6 5 .545 2022 2023 29 25 .537
9 Pittsburgh Pirates 2 7 .222 1979 1992 17 25 .405
8 Cincinnati Reds 5 3 .625 1990 1995 18 14 .563
8 New York Mets 5 3 .625 2015 2015 26 17 .605
7 San Francisco Giants 5 2 .714 2014 2014 24 15 .615
6 Chicago Cubs 1 5 .167 2016 2017 11 21 .344
4 Houston Astros 1 3 .250 2005 2005 11 13 .458
3 Arizona Diamondbacks 2 1 .667 2023 2023 8 8 .500
3 San Diego Padres 2 1 .667 1998 2022 8 8 .500
2 Miami Marlins 2 0 1.000 2003 2003 8 5 .615
2 Washington Nationals 1 1 .500 2019 2019 6 3 .667
2 Milwaukee Brewers 0 2 .000 Never 2018 5 8 .385
1 Colorado Rockies 1 0 1.000 2007 2007 4 0 1.000

Years of Appearance for Each Team

This table lists all the years each team has appeared in the NLCS. Years in bold mean the team won the NLCS that year.

Apps Team Wins Losses Win % Season(s)
15 Los Angeles Dodgers 8 7 .533 1974, 1977, 1978, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1988, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021
14 St. Louis Cardinals 7 7 .500 1982, 1985, 1987, 1996, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2019
13 Atlanta Braves 6 7 .462 1969, 1982, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2020, 2021
11 Philadelphia Phillies 6 5 .545 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1983, 1993, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2022, 2023
8 New York Mets 5 3 .625 1969, 1973, 1986, 1988, 1999, 2000, 2006, 2015
8 Cincinnati Reds 5 3 .625 1970, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1976, 1979, 1990, 1995
7 San Francisco Giants 5 2 .714 1971, 1987, 1989, 2002, 2010, 2012, 2014
9 Pittsburgh Pirates 2 7 .222 1970, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1979, 1990, 1991, 1992
3 San Diego Padres 2 1 .667 1984, 1998, 2022
3 Arizona Diamondbacks 2 1 .667 2001, 2007, 2023
2 Miami Marlins 2 0 1.000 1997, 2003
6 Chicago Cubs 1 5 .167 1984, 1989, 2003, 2015, 2016, 2017
4 Houston Astros 1 3 .250 1980, 1986, 2004, 2005
2 Washington Nationals 1 1 .500 1981, 2019
1 Colorado Rockies 1 0 1.000 2007
2 Milwaukee Brewers 0 2 .000 2011, 2018

Common Matchups in the NLCS

This table shows which teams have played each other most often in the NLCS.

Count Matchup Record Years
5 Cincinnati Reds vs. Pittsburgh Pirates Reds, 4–1 1970, 1972, 1975, 1979, 1990
5 Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Philadelphia Phillies Phillies, 3–2 1977, 1978, 1983, 2008, 2009
4 San Francisco Giants vs. St. Louis Cardinals Giants, 3–1 1987, 2002, 2012, 2014
2 Atlanta Braves vs. New York Mets Tied, 1–1 1969, 1999
2 Atlanta Braves vs. St. Louis Cardinals Tied, 1–1 1982, 1996
2 Atlanta Braves vs. Pittsburgh Pirates Braves, 2–0 1991, 1992
2 Atlanta Braves vs. Los Angeles Dodgers Tied, 1–1 2020, 2021
2 Houston Astros vs. St. Louis Cardinals Tied, 1–1 2004, 2005
2 New York Mets vs. St. Louis Cardinals Tied, 1–1 2000, 2006
2 Los Angeles Dodgers vs. St. Louis Cardinals Cardinals, 2–0 1985, 2013
2 Chicago Cubs vs. Los Angeles Dodgers Tied, 1–1 2016, 2017

See also

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