A petition drive is under way, lobbying Major League Baseball to force the owner of the Pittsburgh Pirates to sell the team.
The drive on Change.org is seeking 25,000 signatures. The numbers were increasing early Wednesday, nearing 17,000 as of 8 a.m.
"Pittsburgh is a baseball town that is being destroyed by a greedy owner. There are so many loyal fans who truly care and support this team through thick and thin. We deserve better,” the petition reads. “... There needs to be change from the top of the organization down. Bob Nutting needs to sell this team, so that we can see a competitive baseball team year in and year out.