The Athletics were seeking their first AL pennant since 1990, while the Tigers captured the league title for the first time since their win in the 1984 World Series.

Tigers first baseman Sean Casey left the game in the bottom of the sixth inning due to an apparent leg injury.

Brandon Inge homered with two outs in the third off Barry Zito, who allowed a double and two walks to load the bases before Magglio Ordóñez's single scored another run.

Wednesday, October 11, 2006, at McAfee Coliseum in Oakland, California Oakland struck first in Game 2 when Mark Kotsay doubled in the first with one out off Justin Verlander, moved to third on a wild pitch, and scored on Milton Bradley's single, but Detroit tied it when Carlos Guillén doubled to lead off the second off Esteban Loaiza, moved to third on a groundout, and scored on Craig Monroe's sacrifice fly.

In the bottom of the inning, Oakland got three straight two-out singles off Todd Jones to load the bases, but Frank Thomas flew out to center to end the game.

Friday, October 13, 2006, at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan Oakland infielder Mark Kiger, who was called up from the minors for the ALCS following an injury to Mark Ellis, entered the game in the eighth inning as a defensive replacement for second baseman D'Angelo Jiménez, thereby becoming the first player in modern baseball history to make his major-league debut in a postseason game.

Saturday, October 14, 2006, at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan In Game 4, Mark Kotsay walked with one out in the first off Jeremy Bonderman, then scored on Milton Bradley's double.

In the bottom of the ninth, Huston Street got two outs, then allowed back-to-back singles to Polanco and Monroe before Ordóñez launched a three-run walk-off home run to win the game and advance the Tigers to the 2006 World Series.

2006 ALCS (4–0): Detroit Tigers over Oakland Athletics A few days after the conclusion of the series, Billy Beane fired manager Ken Macha.

Macha's fractured relationships with players such as Nick Swisher and Rich Harden had been the source of Bay Area stories for several seasons.

After the season, ace pitcher Barry Zito signed a record seven year free agent contract with the San Francisco Giants, ending his seven-year run with the Athletics.