Outside of the first three years of the decade, Pittsburgh Pirates fans did not have much to cheer about during the 1990s. One year, however, that bucked that trend was the 1997 season.
In 1997 the Pittsburgh Pirates were known as the “Freak Show.” Why? Because despite having the lowest payroll in all of baseball and universally being picked to finish last, the team almost won the National League Central. The Pirates remained in the hunt for a division crown until the final week of the season before coming up short.
A key player on this squad was first baseman Kevin Young.