3/1 From 1950: Roberto Spring Woes; Pre-Arb Protest; Havana Camp; Lockout; Drug Testing; RIP Maurice; HBD Johnny

• 1953 - The Pirates opened their first and only spring camp in Havana. The Cuban government didn’t like the financial results of the experiment while the Pirates missed competing against other MLB teams based in Florida, so the original three-year deal ended up one-and-done by mutual agreement. The absence of drawing card Ralph Kiner, who was a holdout, was a raw point for both the Cuban promoters, who counted on his starpower, and the Pirates front office, who wanted him signed and on the field. 
• 1956 - Roberto Clemente held out, missing the opening of camp. The Pirates offered $7,000; he felt he deserved $10,000. The Bucs held all the cards and signed The Great One for $7,500, but Roberto quickly made up the difference by hitting .311 and doubling his paycheck to $15,000 the following campaign. Clemente quickly became noted in Pittsburgh circles for late arrivals to camp for any variety of reasons, and it didn't seem to hurt his preparation any, although it did cause a little tooth-gnashing by his managers. 

Roberto Clemente - 1956 Topps

• 1957 - 2B Johnny Ray was born in Chouteau, Oklahoma. He played seven years (1981-86) for the Bucs with a .286 BA before being moved to make room for Jose Lind. He was Rookie of the Year runner-up in 1982 to Steve Sax, playing in 162 games and hitting .318. Ray also won a Silver Slugger award in 1983. 
• 1965 - Roberto Clemente didn’t report for spring training, suffering from malaria. He made it to camp a month later and muddled along until mid-May, then rallied to win the NL batting title with a .329 BA. He did struggle all year with his power stroke, bopping just 21 doubles and 10 home runs with 65 RBI, his lowest totals since 1959. But no worries; a healthy Roberto went long 29 times with 119 RBI the following go-around and was named MVP. 
• 1965 - OF Maurice Van Robays passed away from pneumonia in his hometown of Detroit at age 50. The Pirates bought him from the minor league Montreal Royals in 1939 and called him up in September. He hit .314 and started the next two seasons, replacing Lloyd Waner in right field. He started wearing glasses in 1942, and slumped to .232. He got used to the peepers in ‘43, hitting .288 in 69 games, but then was whisked away to the Army. He returned from the service in 1946, hit .212 in 59 games as a 31-year-old bench guy and then closed out his career with Oakland of the Pacific Coast League. Maurice was credited with christening Rip Sewell’s famous blooper pitch the “eephus,” a Jewish word that meant “nothing,” which is what Van Robays thought of the pitch. 
• 1976 - The owners ordered a spring training lockout, which lasted 17 days. Unwilling to delay the start of the season, Commissioner Bowie Kuhn decreed training camps to open March 18th. Players agreed to open the 1976 season without a collective bargaining agreement in place, and no games were canceled. A new four-year CBA was hammered out in July that allowed for free agency, and it was ratified in August. 
• 1984 - The Pirates announced that their minor league players would be drug-tested when they reported to camp and then would be spot-tested during the season. Pete Peterson told Bob Hertzel of the Press that “I personally feel there should be drug testing on the major league level...” but it wasn’t permitted under the MLB CBA. 

Zach didn't sign on the dotted line - 2006 Ultra Rising Stars

• 2006 - Four Pirates who hadn’t reached arb yet - LHP’s Zach Duke & Mike Gonzalez, OF Chris Duffy and 2B Jose Castillo - refused to sign their contracts in a symbolic snit over the amount the Pirates had allotted them. GM Dave Littlefield said they had an internal salary system the club was sticking to, and the players themselves accepted their payday fate w/o much ado after the fact. Castillo got $348K, Gonzalez $347K, Duke $335K and Duffy $331K. 13 other pre-arb Buccos went with the flow and signed their deals.