Article: In the same ballpark Scrappy Pirates, Brewers in similar straits

Two years ago, Three Rivers Stadium was not the place to be in August unless the Pittsburgh Steelers were playing an exhibition football game.

The 1997 edition of the Pittsburgh Pirates, however, has transformed that obvious indifference into a passion not seen in these parts since the early '90s, when division titles were common.

A three-game series against San Francisco last weekend drew 94,427 fans who temporarily forgot that the Steelers matched the Green Bay Packers' 5-0 exhibition record. The joint was jumping as the Pirates, unexpected contenders in the National League Central, swept the Giants, knocking them from first place in the NL West for the first time since early May. ...

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