| John Marzano | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Catcher | |
| Born:(1963-02-14)February 14, 1963 Philadelphia,Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| Died: April 19, 2008(2008-04-19) (aged 45) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| July 31, 1987, for the Boston Red Sox | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 23, 1998, for the Seattle Mariners | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .241 |
| Home runs | 11 |
| Runs batted in | 72 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
John Robert Marzano (February 14, 1963 – April 19, 2008), commonly referred to as "Johnny Marz", was anAmerican professionalbaseballcatcher, who played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theBoston Red Sox,Texas Rangers, andSeattle Mariners, from1987 to1992 and1995 to1998. Generally utilized as a backup catcher, Marzano was a member of division champions with the1988 and1990 Red Sox, and the1997 Mariners, for whom he posted a .287batting average. During his playing days, he stood 5 feet 11 inches (1.80 m) tall, weighing 185 pounds (84 kg). Marzano batted and threw right-handed.
Born inPhiladelphia,Pennsylvania, Marzano graduated from itsCentral High School, and briefly attendedHoly Family College, studying radiologic technology. He attendedTemple University, where he played catcher for theOwls' baseball team from 1982 to 1984. In 1982, he playedcollegiate summer baseball with theWareham Gatemen of theCape Cod Baseball League.[1] Marzano finished his collegiate career with a .413 batting average. Named an All-American by three different organizations in 1984, he batted .448, with 15 home runs, and 61 RBI. Marzano finished his career as the all-time Temple University leader in batting average, slugging percentage, and home runs.[2]
In the1984 Major League Baseball draft, Marzano was selected in the first round, 14th overall, by the Boston Red Sox of theAmerican League (AL) and was a member of the silver medal-winning Team USA at the1984 Olympic Games.
As a reserve catcher with the Mariners in1996, Marzano became a cult hero inSeattle when he threw a haymaker atNew York Yankees outfielderPaul O'Neill during a game in theKingdome on Wednesday,August 28.[3] It occurred after O'Neill complained to home plate umpireRocky Roe about a pitch from relieverTim Davis was high and inside; the ensuing brawl in the eighth inning resulted in six ejections, including Marzano.[4]
In later years, Marzano was a frequent guest of Phillies Post Game Live onComcast SportsNet.
He co-hosted a show withRob Charry on Saturdays, and was also a regular guest onWIP's morning show.
Marzano also appeared often onAT&T Daily News Live withMichael Barkann, on Comcast SportsNet.
The Marzano Baseball Academy,[5] founded in 1991, bears his name.
At the time of his death, Marzano was in his second year of work with Major League Baseball's BaseballChannel.tv. He co-hosted the showLeading Off with Vinny Micucci every weekday morning.[6]
Marzano died unexpectedly, April 19, 2008, at age 45, at his home onPassyunk Avenue, in the city'sSouth Philadelphia neighborhood.[7] He was found after having fallen down a flight of stairs. It was originally speculated Marzano may have suffered aheart attack, but the Medical Examiner's Office revealed in its July 17 report that Marzano‘s death was actually caused bypositional asphyxia, due to the way his body landed after the fall. It was later determined the cause of Marzano's death was "postural asphyxia contributed to by blunt trauma and ethanol intoxication,."[8] His last public appearance was onDaily News Live, on Thursday, April 17, from theWachovia Center.
Marzano is survived by his wife, two daughters, and two grandchildren. He is buried at theHoly Cross Cemetery inYeadon, Pennsylvania.
