After tearing through the AL East in the regular season, the Orioles had minimal trouble disposing of the Twins in the AL Championship Series. The first two games were close -- decided by a run apiece -- before the O's blew it open in Game 3 for the sweep.

Paul Blair led the way for the Orioles with six RBIs in three games, as Dave McNally tossed 11 innings of shutout ball (with 11 strikeouts) for an extra-inning complete game victory in Game 2 (Dave Boswell was outdone despite 10 2/3 innings with one earned run allowed). Mike Cuellar and Jim Palmer also made starts of eight-plus innings and two earned runs.

Tony Oliva went 5-for-13 with three runs and two doubles in the series for Minnesota, which was held to a .155 batting average by the Orioles' pitching staff.

Path to the ALCS: The Twins (97-65) won the AL West by nine games. The Orioles (109-53) won the AL East by 19 games.

Managers: Earl Weaver, BAL; Billy Martin, MIN