The '76 ALCS welcomed two teams to the fray that had not reached the postseason in the previous 10 years (the last time for the Yankees was the 1964 World Series, and it was the first postseason appearance in franchise history for the Royals), and the series proved to be a good one.

The Yankees took Game 1 behind a stellar pitching performance from Catfish Hunter, and the two teams alternated victories the rest of the way.

Yankees first baseman Chris Chambliss was the Game 5 hero, hitting a walk-off homer to lead off the bottom of the ninth against Mark Littell.

Chambliss went 11-for-21 (.524) in the series, and Yankees catcher Thurman Munson went 10-for-23 (.435). George Brett had eight hits for Kansas City.

Path to the ALCS: The Royals (90-72) won the AL West by 2 1/2 games. The Yankees (97-62) won the AL East by 10 1/2 games.?

Managers:?Billy Martin, NYY; Whitey Herzog, KC