The 1995 American League Championship Series (ALCS), the second round of the 1995 American League playoffs, matched the Central Division champion Cleveland Indians against the West Division champion Seattle Mariners. The Mariners had the home field advantage, which was predetermined and assigned to either the West Division champion or their opponents in the Division Series. The two teams were victorious in the AL Division Series (ALDS), with the Indians defeating the East Division champion Boston Red Sox three games to none, and the Mariners defeating the wild card qualifier New York Yankees three games to two. The Indians won the series four games to two to become the American League champions, and lost to the National League champion Atlanta Braves in the 1995 World Series. Background Mariners The summer of 1995 proved to be the most pivotal stretch in Seattle Mariners history. In fact, many consider this the season and the team that saved the Mariners from relocation out of Seattle. An expansion team created as a result of a breach of contract lawsuit involving the Seattle Pilots' 1969 departure after just one year in Seattle, the Mariners had been a doormat franchise, finishing with a losing record every year until 1991 (by then their 15th season as a franchise). By 1995, they had just recorded two winning record seasons with no postseason appearances. There was also an issue with the stadium, the Kingdome, which was a multipurpose domed stadium that had become well outdated by the mid-1990s. This became even more apparent in late July 1994 when tiles fell from the ceiling 30 minutes before the stadium was set to open for a game against the Baltimore Orioles, forcing the Mariners to play the rest of what would be a short season on the road. It was clear by the start of the 1995 season, the Mariners needed a new stadium in Seattle or they would be moved to a city that could provide them one. With this as the backdrop heading into the strike-shortened 1995 season, the Mariners won their first division title, in part due to a historic collapse from the California Angels. The Angels were leading the American League West by 10½-game lead over the Texas Rangers and an 11½-game lead over the Seattle Mariners on August 16th and were still atop the division, leading Seattle by 6 games and Texas by 7½, when a nine-game