Bucs a top-ten team

Just noticed this in Joe Rutter's notebook for the Tribune-Review:

Bucs moving up

According to a Harris poll conducted in April, the Pirates are tied for ninth place as the nation's most popular baseball team, rising from No. 18 in 2003.

To no surprise, the New York Yankees were rated first, the Chicago Cubs second and the Atlanta Braves third.

The Pirates were one of four teams to move up nine or more spots from 2003. The others were the Houston Astros (20th to ninth), Detroit Tigers (15th to fifth) and Baltimore Orioles (tied at 18th to eighth).

Right on. Go read the Harris press release for yourself. Who would have guessed the Tigers are the fifth-most popular team? Now I understand why they got so much love for their somewhat strong charge from the gate this year.

Nationally, the Pirates are more popular than the rest of the NL Central, save the Cubs, who are second, and the Astros, who are tied with the Pirates for ninth place.

The poll was taken between April 13 and 18, 2004. The Pirates were in New York, sweeping the Mets, at the end of that period. This couldn't mean much in this poll, though, since only 38% of the nationwide cross-section taken by Harris said they follow baseball right now.

More evidence that the Bucs have a broad and sleeping fan base. Imagine what a little winning would do.