Pirates Looking To Do Two Things For The First Time In 20 Years

One of the biggest first half surprises of this baseball season has been the play of the long downtrodden Pittsburgh Pirates.

Entering Friday's game versus the Milwaukee Brewers, Pittsburgh's 48-37 record places them at the top of a very competitive National League Central. The last time the Pirates led their division at the All-Star break was back in 1997. The team would later fade in the second half, allowing the Houston Astros to take the Central.

If the Pirates can hold on though October, the historic franchise would win their first division title since 1992. That team, which featured Barry Bonds, lost a heartbreaking seven-game series to the Atlanta Braves.

The very next season, Bonds signed with the San Francisco Giants.

Amazingly, the Pirates have not finished above .500 in the 19 years since.