John Marzano Dead At 45

Over the weekend, some sad news out of Philly, as MLB.com broadcaster John Marzano was found dead in his home at the age of 45. Details are a little sketchy at this point, but it appears Marzano either had a heart attack or fell down the stairs.

Marzano was a backup major league catcher for 10 seasons, then became a local radio personality and a sports analyst for Comcast and MLB.com, doing color and commentary for both organizations. He was a very smart, outgoing guy and was very generous with his time whenever you needed a good quote or an honest game-inside the game perspective.

The above photo was taken during a '96 Mariners-Yankees series where Marzano went at it with the Yankees Paul O'Neill. You can take the boy out of South Philly...

Funeral services for Marzano will be held this Friday.

Marzano Brought South Philly To The Game [Inquirer]

3:30 PM on Mon Apr 21 2008
By DAULERIO
7,928 views
43 comments

Comments

Chamomiles Davis at 03:36 PM on 04/21/08
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I've read about this in three different publications now and I still find it hard to believe. Sucks.
ArkansasFred at 03:37 PM on 04/21/08
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One of the more notable alumns of my high school and a great baseball guy. Used to love listening to him on WIP.

R.I.P.
Brazil Thrill at 03:37 PM on 04/21/08
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Marzano either had a heart attack or fell down the stairs.

Did they assign a trainee coroner to this case?
Steve Trachsel, Ace at 03:38 PM on 04/21/08
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Damn, I am at a loss for Snark.

I figured he was gonna make it onto a national TV team at some point..
Doyle McPoyle at 03:38 PM on 04/21/08
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Shoulda been you, Sterling.
44 in a Row at 03:38 PM on 04/21/08
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Terrible, and not just because he had the good sense to put Paul O'Neill in a headlock.
EddieRebel at 03:39 PM on 04/21/08
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Did Paul O'Neil hit two home runs for him while on his deathbed?
Gourmet Spud at 03:40 PM on 04/21/08
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@Brazil Thrill - Hawks Aficionado:

Now that is how you tastefully redirect towards snark.
Clare at 03:40 PM on 04/21/08
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Johnny Marz was never afraid to call it like he saw it. I always liked him on the Phillies' post-game show.

Really, really sad.
Carlton_Whitfield at 03:41 PM on 04/21/08
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@EddieRebel: No, but tomorrow he has to catch a fly ball in his hat.
Rob Iracane at 03:42 PM on 04/21/08
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@Brazil Thrill - Hawks Aficionado: +1
Slothrop at 03:42 PM on 04/21/08
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@Doyle McPoyle:

Sterling? Really, with Waldman sitting right there? "Oh my goodness gracious this is the most Gahaaa! ...."
SlantedAndDisenchanted at 03:43 PM on 04/21/08
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Who's that white guy wearing Paul Oneill's jersey number?!?! Boooooooo!!!

Oh wait.
Spectacular Sam at 03:43 PM on 04/21/08
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Geez, that sounds like an opening to an episode of Six Feet Under.
Steve Trachsel, Ace at 03:44 PM on 04/21/08
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Dead Phillies and Steeler Dong, the Clinton campaign is trying to find away to blame all this on Obama
blastitbiggs at 03:44 PM on 04/21/08
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@Brazil Thrill - Hawks Aficionado: Well, his shoes fell off, which caused confusion.
Enrico at 03:45 PM on 04/21/08
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Did Daulerio just quote The Roots?

Definitely a loss for all of Philly. Marz will be missed.
Gourmet Spud at 03:47 PM on 04/21/08
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@Spectacular Sam:

Just wait until a delerious Jon Kitna gets run over chasing Jesus balloons into traffic.
teh_joe at 03:48 PM on 04/21/08
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there was a moment of silence before the National Anthem last night at the game. class move by the Phils. he'll be missed.
The Fan’s Attic at 03:49 PM on 04/21/08
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Shoulda been you Rocky...to fall down the stairs.

RIP Marzano.
Pittsburgh Sports and... at 03:49 PM on 04/21/08
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Any friend of a Pirates manager is a friend of mine

RIP, Marzano

[www.pittsburghlive.com]
Kenneth Jackelen at 03:49 PM on 04/21/08
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What the hell is that guy doing wearing LaTroy Hawkins' jersey number?
FightTiger at 03:50 PM on 04/21/08
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"It appears Marzano either had a heart attack or fell down the stairs"
You'd think authorities would be able to discern between those two causes.

My condolances to the Marzano family and the Philly community. Sounds like a great guy.
crazyjoedavola at 03:51 PM on 04/21/08
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@Slothrop: Even money Waldman is the one to do it. There's a dark rage hidden in there. One that festers each time she listens to the biggest hack this side of Berman. It is high, it is far, it is manslaughter
Whitey Fisk at 03:52 PM on 04/21/08
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@EddieRebel:

Yes, and then he caught a ball in his cap.
Hit Bull Win Steak at 03:54 PM on 04/21/08
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@Brazil Thrill - Hawks Aficionado: No, the coroner in South Philly is just using the old mafia "Wheel of Death Excuses" and it stopped on the line in between "heart attack" and "fell down the stairs" and he just went with it.
How do you spell retard? at 03:55 PM on 04/21/08
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Loved Johnny Marz and Bob Charry on Saturday afternoons. He will be missed.
Slothrop at 03:59 PM on 04/21/08
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@FightTiger:

I'm no medical examiner, but if he had a cardiac event on the stairs, the fall might've killed him before the heart attack.

/didn't know the guy; sorry he died.
The Sports Hernia at 04:01 PM on 04/21/08
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LaTroy Hawkins framed this photograph.
Jefferson Short Bus at 04:01 PM on 04/21/08
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RIP
Afino at 04:02 PM on 04/21/08
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My fiancee, who knows nothing about baseball, informed me of his death this weekend figuring he was actually someone important that I knew about.

Oh yes, he was. RIP.
FightTiger at 04:03 PM on 04/21/08
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@Slothrop: I thought about that possibility. But it was posed as an "either or" which sounded like an odd determination to be making.

Either way... tragic and unfortunate.
FredGarvin at 04:03 PM on 04/21/08
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@crazyjoedavola:

If only he could have fallen into Waldman and Sterling, brekaing his fall with their spines.
Packy at 04:04 PM on 04/21/08
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RIP Johnny Marz. He will be missed. He was the best part of the Morning Show on WIP. A true blue collar south Philly guy that came home after he left the MLB.
ghostsoftheSCupcountry at 04:05 PM on 04/21/08
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RIP.
Should've been you, Joe Morgan.
FredGarvin at 04:06 PM on 04/21/08
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Anybody who smacks Paul O'Neill is okay in my book.

RIP, funnyman.
Flαmεtown at 04:11 PM on 04/21/08
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RIP good sir. You were a great guy with a wonderful personality. A man who lived for baseball and loved to share it with kids. You will be missed.

Please, no jokes.
OchentaYcinco at 04:28 PM on 04/21/08
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As a TV guy, a hell of a lot better than most. As a ballplayer, Sal Fasano before Sal Fasano was Sal Fasano. Godspeed, Johnny Marz.
Fugees-and-Funyuns at 04:29 PM on 04/21/08
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They say the fall didn't kill so I guess that means it was the heart attack that did it. Apparently his father also died of heart attack when he was in his 60s. Sad.
André Roussimoff at 05:17 PM on 04/21/08
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I've only seen a little of his work but he seemed to really know his stuff. That is sad for his family.
NJP at 06:05 PM on 04/21/08
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As a Mariners fan from way back, I thought the world of John Marzano from his time with the team. He seemed like a great guy, and he decked Paul O'Neill! He was also responsible for my favorite baseball quote ever, when he said "Between Griffey and me, we've got 31 home runs, so we've got some power in the lineup". Of course, at that point in the season, Ken Griffey Jr. had 30 home runs and Marzano had 1.
Slick Rick's Bookie at 07:16 PM on 04/21/08
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@Doyle McPoyle: Or you Michael Kay...Seeeee Yaa!
IchiroSuzukiSamurai at 08:35 PM on 04/21/08
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@NJP: The M's announcers started the Saturday "Mariners Roundtable" saying "this is the saddest topic we've ever had to discuss on this roundtable." Then they said why, and I just sat there sadly nodding. Marzie was one of those guys who would have been perfect telling talltales of baseball well into his nineties.