Duane Burleson, Associated Press Jim Leyland, now the Detroit Tigers manager, comes to town with his surprising Tigers, along with five others with ties to the Pirates.

DETROIT -- There will be some delicious irony tonight at PNC Park.

Six former Pirates -- three who were managers and three who were players -- now lead the hottest team in baseball return to Pittsburgh to face their onetime team, now at its lowest.

The Detroit Tigers staff features the three previous Pirates managers -- Lloyd McClendon (fired), Gene Lamont (fired) and Jim Leyland, the current Detroit manager (snapped up by that team before he could even be interviewed by the Pirates after they fired Mr. McClendon). The former players are Andy Van Slyke, Don Slaught and Rafael Belliard. Mr. McClendon also played for the Pirates.

The Tigers have the best record in baseball at 54-25.

And even with yesterday's 7-6 victory against the Chicago White Sox that ended their 13-game losing streak, Jim Tracy's Pirates have the worst record in the National League (27-53).

Mr. McClendon, fired Sept. 6 when the Pirates owned the worst record in the National League (55-81), admits to mixed emotions about his return to PNC Park.

"I certainly root for [the Pirates] and I want them to do well," he said. "It saddens me to see they're still struggling somewhat. I was in Pittsburgh for 15 years. I have a lot of fond memories, a lot of friends. Part of me will always be a Bucco.

"I have nothing but good things to say about that organization and the people who employed me."

And who fired him.

"There are a lot of different emotions bottled up," Mr. McClendon said. "I'm looking forward to it. I'm nervous. I'm anxious. I guess, to be honest, I'll be glad when [the series] is over because I really don't know what to expect.

"Pittsburgh's always been a big part of my life, and for the first time in 15 years I'm not there. It's going to be a little different sitting on the other side."

Mr. Lamont, who managed the Pirates from 1997-2000, has been back to Pittsburgh "since I was told -- ungraciously -- to leave." He was a coach with Houston from 2002-2004. He relishes the return tonight with Mr. Leyland and Mr. McClendon.

"I hope [the fans] don't look at our records -- and you can put Tracy right along with us, it looks like," Mr. Lamont said with a slight laugh.

The three ex-managers, a combined 233 games under .500 over the final 13 seasons of their leadership, enjoy talking about their days as Pirates.

"We have a ball with it," Mr. Leyland said. "It's like the old days. Geno kids with me and Mac kids with me and I kid with them all the time.

"It's been a lot of fun. But we've won some games, too. That makes a big difference."

Mr. Leyland et al arrive at PNC Park having won 12 of their past 13 games, having been labeled recently "the hottest team on the planet" by Houston manager Phil Garner, having been in first place or tied for the lead in the American League Central Division for the past 45 days and seemingly a lock to reach the postseason.

"I think we're all a little bit pleasantly surprised," Mr. Van Slyke said.

The Tigers' performance is remarkable for a team that hasn't been to the postseason since 1987, hasn't had a winning season since 1993 and had only 71 wins last season.

Even Mr. Leyland is surprised by the Tigers' incredible success.

"Absolutely," he said. "I thought we had some talent here -- obviously -- when I took the job. I knew the farm system was picking up.

"But to say at this point we'd have as many wins as we have, I think it's a little surprising."

General manager Dave Dombrowski snapped up Mr. Leyland three days after last season ended, heading off any chance that Mr. Leyland would have a second stint as the Pirates' manager.

Mr. Leyland said then that he didn't want to wait for the Pirates job, "a job that in my heart I truly believed I wasn't going to get."

Then Mr. Leyland, who hadn't managed since he admittedly burned out with Colorado in 1999, put together his coaching staff, which features Mr. Lamont (third base/bench coach), Mr. McClendon (bullpen coach), Mr. Slaught (hitting coach), Mr. Belliard (infield coach) and Mr. Van Slyke (first base coach).

Messrs. Van Slyke, Slaught, Belliard and McClendon all played for Mr. Leyland in the heady division-winning days of the early 1990s and now work for him.

"One of the nice things about it is coming back and bringing Donnie Slaught, Rafael Belliard, Gene Lamont, Lloyd McClendon and Andy Van Slyke," Mr. Leyland said. "We're Pirates. That's kind of neat, really. I don't know if anybody else thinks it's neat, but we do.

"[Pittsburgh is] where Andy established himself as an All-Star. Mac established himself as a player and as a manager. Gene Lamont was a manager there and got his first coaching job there. I got my first managing job there. Raffy had been there with Chuck [Tanner] and he ended up being our shortstop [1986-88]. Donnie Slaught was part of our championship teams.

"I've told everybody, 'Once a Pirate, always a Pirate.' They gave me my first [managing] chance. It was a great part of my life and it's a part of my past. I had my time there and it was a wonderful time. I'll never forget it, but everybody moves on."

Also here with the Tigers is Chris Shelton, a former Pirates prospect whom Detroit picked in the Rule 5 draft after the 2003 season.

"It'll be an exciting time," Mr. Shelton said. "I was hoping I could play in that ballpark 81 times [a season]. Unfortunately, it didn't work out that way, but I'm enjoying [being with the Tigers]."

Mr. Leyland, just as during his tenure as the Pirates' manager, played down his team's position in the standings.

"We have a long way to go," he said. "We have a good team. We're a legitimate team. I don't know if we're a legitimate champion, but we're good."

Mr. Leyland paused, then added: "We're not bad, I can tell you that."