In Major League Baseball, the National League Championship Series (NLCS) determines who wins the National League pennant and advances to baseball's championship, the World Series. It began in 1969, when the National League was reorganized into two division, East and West. The winners of each division played each other in a best-of-five series to determine who would advanced to the World Series. In 1985, the format changed to best-of-seven.

In 1981, a divisional series was held due to split-season caused by strike action.

In 1994, the league was restructured into three divisions, with the three division winners and a wild-card team advancing to a best-of-five playoff round, the National League Division Series (NLDS). The winners of that round then advance to the best-of-seven NLCS. This is the system currently in use.

A Most Valuable Player (MVP) award is given to the outstanding player in each series. No MVP award is given for divisional series play.

For National League pennant winners prior to 1969, see National League pennant winners 1901-68.

NLCS results (1969-present)

YearWinnerLoserWinsLossesSeries MVP
1969New York MetsAtlanta Braves 30 
1970Cincinnati RedsPittsburgh Pirates 30 
1971Pittsburgh PiratesSan Francisco Giants 31 
1972Cincinnati RedsPittsburgh Pirates 32 
1973New York MetsCincinnati Reds 32 
1974Los Angeles DodgersPittsburgh Pirates 31 
1975Cincinnati RedsPittsburgh Pirates 30 
1976Cincinnati RedsPhiladelphia Phillies 30  
1977Los Angeles DodgersPhiladelphia Phillies 31 Dusty Baker, Los Angeles
1978Los Angeles DodgersPhiladelphia Phillies 31 Steve Garvey, Los Angeles
1979Pittsburgh PiratesCincinnati Reds 30 Willie Stargell, Pittsburgh
1980Philadelphia PhilliesHouston Astros 32Manny Trillo, Philadelphia
1981Los Angeles DodgersMontreal Expos 32Burt Hooton, Los Angeles
1982St. Louis CardinalsAtlanta Braves 30 Darrell Porter, St. Louis
1983Philadelphia PhilliesLos Angeles Dodgers 31Garry Matthews, Philadelphia
1984San Diego PadresChicago Cubs 32Steve Garvey, San Diego
1985St. Louis CardinalsLos Angeles Dodgers 42Ozzie Smith, St. Louis
1986New York MetsHouston Astros 42Mike Scott, New York
1987St. Louis CardinalsSan Francisco Giants 4 3Jeff Leonard, St. Louis
1988Los Angeles DodgersNew York Mets 43Orel Hershiser, Los Angeles
1989San Francisco GiantsChicago Cubs 4 1Will Clark, San Francisco
1990Cincinnati RedsPittsburgh Pirates 42Rob Dibble and Randy Myers, Cincinnati
1991Atlanta BravesPittsburgh Pirates 43Steve Avery, Atlanta
1992Atlanta BravesPittsburgh Pirates 43John Smoltz, Atlanta
1993Philadelphia PhilliesAtlanta Braves 42 Curt Schilling, Philadelphia
1994Not held due to player strike.
1995 Atlanta BravesCincinnati Reds 40Mike Devereaux, Atlanta
1996 Atlanta BravesSt. Louis Cardinals 43Javy Lopez, Atlanta
1997 Florida MarlinsAtlanta Braves 42Livan Hernandez, Florida
1998 San Diego PadresAtlanta Braves 42Sterling Hitchcock, San Diego
1999 Atlanta BravesNew York Mets 42Eddie Perez, Atlanta
2000 New York MetsSt. Louis Cardinals 41Mike Hampton, New York
2001 Arizona DiamondbacksAtlanta Braves 41Craig Counsell, Arizona
2002 San Francisco GiantsSt. Louis Cardinals 41Benito Santiago, San Francisco
2003 Florida MarlinsChicago Cubs 43Ivan Rodriguez, Florida
Denotes wild-card team (since 1995).

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