Pirates first team to 50 wins, own best record in baseball

The Pirates' last winning season came in 1992 under Jim Leyland.

By Connor Moylan Jun 30, 2013, 8:30am EDT

The Pittsburgh Pirates haven't had a winning record since 1992, but it sure looks like that's going to change this year. A 2-1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday made them the first team to reach 50 wins this season and gave them the best record in baseball at 50-30.

Pittsburgh won its eighth straight game, the longest active winning streak in MLB. The Pirates have won 50 games before July 1 for the first time in franchise history.

The closest Pittsburgh reached to 50 wins before July 1 was in 1971, when they won their 50th game on July 1 en route to a 97-65 record and a World Series championship.

The fans have started to notice the team's success, as the Pirates sold out their fifth straight game at PNC Park on Saturday. The team had never sold-out five consecutive home games since moving to the new park in 2011.

Jason Grilli talked about the impact the crowds have had on the team, telling the Associated Press:

"The energy of the crowds has been unbelievable and we've been soaking it all up. You absorb it and try to use it to your advantage. We're playing for ourselves but we're also playing for about 40,000 people in the stands and an entire city."

The Pirates had a 63-47 record on Aug. 8 in 2012 before collapsing down the stretch, finishing with a 79-83 record. This Pirates team will look to put last season behind them, and earn the franchise's first postseason appearance since 1992.