John Marzano
Encyclopedia
John Robert Marzano (February 14, 1963 - April 19, 2008) commonly referred to as Johnny Marz was an American
catcher
in Major League Baseball
who played from 1987 to 1998 for the Boston Red Sox
, Texas Rangers
and Seattle Mariners
, generally as a backup catcher. He was a member of division champions with the and Red Sox and the Mariners, batting
.287 for the latter team.
Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
, Marzano graduated from Central High School, and briefly attended Holy Family College, studying radiologic technology. He also attended and played for the Owls
of Temple University
from 1982 to 1984. Marzano played as a catcher for the Temple Owls baseball team before getting drafted in the 1st round, 14th overall, in the 1984 entry draft by the Boston Red Sox of the American League
.
He was a member of the silver medal-winning US Baseball Team at the 1984 Olympic Games
. He founded the Marzano Baseball Academy in 1991.
Marzano became a cult hero in Seattle when he threw a haymaker at New York Yankees
outfielder Paul O'Neill during a game in 1996. He is well-known in Seattle for this incident which occurred after O'Neill complained to the umpire about a pitch that was high and inside.
In later years, Marzano was the usual guest of Phillies
Post Game Live on Comcast SportsNet
. He co-hosted a show with Rob Charry on Saturdays, and was also a regular guest on WIP-AM
's morning show. He also commonly appeared on AT&T Daily News Live with Michael Barkann
on Comcast SportsNet.
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 show Leading Off with Vinny Micucci every weekday morning.
Marzano died unexpectedly at age 45 at his home on Passyunk Avenue in the city's South Philadelphia
neighborhood. He was found after having fallen down a flight of stairs. It was originally speculated that he may have suffered a heart attack
, but the Medical Examiner's Office reported on July 17, 2008 that his death was actually caused by postural asphyxia after the way his body landed after the fall. His last public appearance was on Daily News Live on Thursday, April 17, from the Wachovia Center
. He is survived by his wife, two daughters, and two grandchildren.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
who played from 1987 to 1998 for the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
, Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
and Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
, generally as a backup catcher. He was a member of division champions with the and Red Sox and the Mariners, batting
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.287 for the latter team.
Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
, Marzano graduated from Central High School, and briefly attended Holy Family College, studying radiologic technology. He also attended and played for the Owls
Temple Owls
Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania has a very long-running athletic program. The school's sports teams are called the Owls, originating from the university's early days as a night school. The current athletic director is Bill Bradshaw....
of Temple University
Temple University
Temple University is a comprehensive public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Originally founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple University is among the nation's largest providers of professional education and prepares the largest body of professional...
from 1982 to 1984. Marzano played as a catcher for the Temple Owls baseball team before getting drafted in the 1st round, 14th overall, in the 1984 entry draft by the Boston Red Sox of the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
.
He was a member of the silver medal-winning US Baseball Team at the 1984 Olympic Games
Baseball at the 1984 Summer Olympics
Baseball at the 1984 Summer Olympics was a demonstration sport. Although single exhibition games had been played in conjunction with five previous Olympics, it was the first time that the sport was officially included in the program, and also the first time that the sport was played in Olympics...
. He founded the Marzano Baseball Academy in 1991.
Marzano became a cult hero in Seattle when he threw a haymaker at New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
outfielder Paul O'Neill during a game in 1996. He is well-known in Seattle for this incident which occurred after O'Neill complained to the umpire about a pitch that was high and inside.
In later years, Marzano was the usual guest of Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
Post Game Live on Comcast SportsNet
Comcast SportsNet
Comcast SportsNet is a group of regional sports networks in the United States primarily owned by the Comcast cable television company....
. He co-hosted a show with Rob Charry on Saturdays, and was also a regular guest on WIP-AM
WIP-AM
WIP is a Philadelphia radio station with an all-sports format. Located at 610 AM, the station adopted its current all-sports format in 1986, making it the first all-sports radio station in the United States...
's morning show. He also commonly appeared on AT&T Daily News Live with Michael Barkann
Michael Barkann
Michael Barkann is an award winning sports host, anchor and reporter for Comcast SportsNet.-Education:...
on Comcast SportsNet.
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 show Leading Off with Vinny Micucci every weekday morning.
Marzano died unexpectedly at age 45 at his home on Passyunk Avenue in the city's South Philadelphia
South Philadelphia
South Philadelphia, nicknamed South Philly, is the section of Philadelphia bounded by South Street to the north, the Delaware River to the east and south, and the Schuylkill River to the west.-History:...
neighborhood. He was found after having fallen down a flight of stairs. It was originally speculated that he may have suffered a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
, but the Medical Examiner's Office reported on July 17, 2008 that his death was actually caused by postural asphyxia after the way his body landed after the fall. His last public appearance was on Daily News Live on Thursday, April 17, from the Wachovia Center
Wachovia Center
The Wells Fargo Center is an indoor arena located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
. He is survived by his wife, two daughters, and two grandchildren.
External links
- John Marzano Baseball Academy / Tribute Site
- MLB.com historical statistics
- Baseball Reference minor league statistics
- Find a Grave