PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — The Pirates open their final series of the season against the Atlanta Braves and this season was not expected to end like it did.

It turned out to be the 20th consecutive losing season – a major North American sports record.

And for Pirate fans, it was such a disappointment.

As fans lined up outside PNC Park Monday for autographs, they recalled how promising the season was early on – some said they expected the Pirates – not the Braves, to be getting ready for the playoffs.

In all, the Pirates sold more than two million tickets this year – only about 400,000 less than the record attendance year when PNC park opened in 2001.

Matt Weaver, 19, of Punxsutawney, says this was his first real chance of seeing a winning season.

“Around July it was – I was thinking World Serie – I’m not gonna lie about it,” he said. “It’s just, I don’t know, I don’t want to call anybody out specifically but it just, I don’t know, they couldn’t follow through and I’m really disappointed.”

Pirates General Manage Neal Huntington says he expects to keep his leadership team next season.

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