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Bucco Fever Overtakes The 'Burgh

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- As the Pirates enter the All-Star break winners for the first time in nearly 20 years, Bucco Fever is raging through the 'Burgh!

For the first time since 1992, the Bucs are heading into the All-Star break with a winning record.  As a result, the young team is selling out games and sparking a baseball revival across the city.

It seems for the first time in a long time, Pirate fever is back. To figure that out, just talk to fans who bought last minute tickets for Sunday's near sellout at PNC Park.

"It's tough to get good seats now, but that's great," said Jeff Marincheck, a Pirates fan.

In addition to their winning record, the Pirates are in a tough battle for first place in the National League Central division. It is bringing back good memories for one long-time stadium worker.

"We're back to the 60's right now," said Mary J, a concession stand worker. "Maz... somebody's going to hit one and we're going to get the World Series."

PNC Park is known as one of the best ballparks in the major leagues, and now it has good players and a good team to go with it.

"Obviously, we had a lot of belief in the team that we were going to turn it around this year, bringing in Clint Hurdle and the maturation of the McCutchens and Neil Walker and Tabata and our pitching coming around," said Lou DePaoli, the Pirates executive vice president and chief marketing officer.

Things are going well at PNC Park, merchandise sales are up 30 percent, attendance has jumped 17 percent and there's more to come the second half.

The Pirates sold out a record 19 games when PNC Park first opened, and right now they are more than half way there at the half way mark of the season. The way they are playing, there's a good chance they could break that record this year.

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