Orbital alignment effects and branching fractions have been measured for collisionally induced electronic energy transfer from the Sr 5s6p ¹P₁ state to seven near-resonant states : 5s6p ³P_2,1,0, 4d5p ¹D₂ and 4d5p ³F_4,3,2. The measurements were carried out in a crossed-beam experiment using a pulsed, linearly polarized laser which propagates perpendicular to the initial average relative velocity vector of the collision partners. The results show remarkably high specificity in both the formation of product states and the alignment effects into each state. With He as a collision partner, formation of the ³F₃ state shows a preference for the laser polarization parallel to the collision axis; formation of the ³P₁ state shows no alignment dependence, whereas the ³P₀ state shows a strong preference (4 : 1) for the perpendicular polarization. All other states are preferentially formed with the perpendicular laser polarization. In addition, the branching fractions produced by collisions with He are highly non-statistical. With Xe, the branching fractions approach those of a statistical distribution, suggesting a strong interaction; however, alignment preferences are still discernible for individual states. Despite the complexity and large number of curve-crossing possibilities in this multistate system, several highly selective crossings are inferred from the observed alignment effects. Specific alignment preferences are discussed in terms of symmetry and energy considerations.