[FuzzyRussianHat]

The 1896 American League Championship Series was the fourth trip for Milwaukee, who won their lone pennant and World Series in 1888. They had made it two years prior, but lost to Washington. This was New York’s second ALCS, having won it all in 1892. The Yankees had an impressive last-to-first turnaround after an abysmal 1895. The Brewers had home field advantage and had dominated their season series 5-1 over NY.



The Yankees opened with a 9-4 road upset in game one powered by a six-run fourth inning. The inning included a three-run Fred Roat home run and a two-run shot by Pat Luby. Luby was 4-5 on the day with three RBI.



Milwaukee evened the series up on a 5-3 victory in game two. Lee Viau pitched 7.2 innings, giving up three hits, two runs, two walks, with four strikeouts. LF Bill Gray got hurt later in the game, but he was 3-3 with a double, two runs, and three RBI for the Brewers.



A late rally pushed Milwaukee to an 8-5 road win in game three to take the 2-1 series lead. Tied 5-5 entering the ninth, the Brewers scored thrice including a two-run homer by Tom Parrott. RF Willie Keeler homered twice and was 4-5 with three runs and four RBI.



New York won 6-4 on a rainy Sunday in game four to even the ALCS at 2-2. The game was tied 4-4 entering the seventh, where the Yankees got a two-RBI double by Henry Easterday. Bill Bishop got all but the final out for NY, giving up seven hits, two walks, and four runs with four Ks. In the losing effort, Milwaukee C Wilbert Robinson was 3-4 with four RBI, including a three-run homer.



Game five was a classic battle that was 3-2 Brewers after the fourth inning and stayed there until the eighth. The Yankees got one back to ultimately force extras. New York broke through in the bottom of the 12th with three straight singles, the winner by Fred Roat knocking in Jake Stenzel. The Yankees now have the 3-2 series lead with the remainder shifting to Wisconsin. Pitcher George Davies notably tossed 8.1 innings, allowing seven hits, three runs (two earned) with eight strikeouts.



Back at home for game six, Milwaukee grabbed the 5-3 win to force a decisive game seven at Borchert Field. The Brewers rallied to tie it at 3-3 in the seventh, then went ahead on an eighth inning two-run homer by Willie Keeler. He also had a solo homer in the first inning. Stub Brown kept the door closed with the final two innings clean in relief.