27150547
John Marzano is the person who called Anthony and Cindy Alberto every morning at 5:30 before leaving for New York City.
The couple from the 2600 block of Mole Street were talking about purchasing a summer Shore home next to their very close friend so the families could hang out together.
Little did they know when Marzano stopped in at Stokes Sports Bar, 16th Street and Oregon Avenue, the afternoon of April 18 it would be the last time they would ever see him. According to reports, the former Major League catcher was found dead early Saturday morning in his home on the 1900 block of Passyunk Avenue. He was 45.
Preliminary indications were a possible heart attack, but the Medical Examiner’s Office is conducting additional tests to determine the cause.
"He was like my brother," a choked up Anthony, owner of Stokes, said Monday afternoon.
The two had known each other for some 25 years, from when they lived in the same apartment building at 16th and Ritner streets. The Albertos lived on the second floor and Marzano was one floor up.
"We spoke every morning," Anthony said. "We were instant friends."
They are godfathers to each other’s children. Inside Stokes, the walls are decorated with Marzano photos. There is one with former Seattle teammate and current New York Yankee Alex Rodriguez and another with the Phillie Phanatic. Cindy had a stack of other snapshots strewn across the bar.
"He was one of the guys," Cindy said. "Just look at the walls, he is in more than half the pictures."
Friday night, according to Anthony, Marzano was having dinner on Passyunk with some friends from New York and the three had plans to meet up afterwards. The retired Major Leaguer, who spent 10 seasons with Boston, Seattle and Texas, left his cash at the bar since he planned to return later that night. The friends spoke Friday around dinnertime, but their get-together didn’t pan out.
Marzano was to meet Anthony Saturday morning for the annual Stokes crawfish party that afternoon. According to Anthony, his good friend never missed one. But April 19, there was no 5:30 a.m. wake-up call.
That morning, Marzano’s family got in touch with the Albertos, who didn’t believe what they were hearing.
"We thought it was a joke," Cindy said. "John was a prankster and so was his sister."
"I had to walk [to his apartment]," Anthony said when he realized the news might be true. "I just couldn’t believe that it happened. I just couldn’t believe it."
Neumann-Goretti baseball coach Lou Spadaccini said he was "blown away" when word reached him during his son’s Saturday T-ball game. The Saints used Marzano’s Baseball Academy in Northern Liberties for their off-season workout program.
When Spadaccini was learning to play America’s pastime, Marzano was building a national reputation as a member of the 1984 USA Baseball team that went on to win Olympic gold. That same year, the catcher was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the first round as the 14th overall pick.
"He is somebody I looked up to as a young ball player," Spadaccini said of Marzano. "He is someone I admired as both a person and a baseball guy."
Born Valentine’s Day, 1963, the retired professional never forgot his roots, including growing up at 12th and Wharton streets. While a student at Annunciation B.V.M, he spent time at Columbus-DiProspero Square Playground, getting lessons from his dad, John Sr., as well as coach Gabriel "Spanky" DiFeliciantonio, who worked with the young catcher at Capitolo Playground, 10th and Wharton streets. Marzano would later star at Central High School before continuing his baseball career at Temple University.
At the North Philly college, his .413 batting average is the highest in Owls history, while his slugging percentage of .676 and 147 RBIs both ranked second-best. He was inducted into the Temple Athletics Hall of Fame in ’98.
"We are deeply saddened by the loss of John Marzano," Temple Director of Athletics Bill Bradshaw said in a story posted on the school’s athletic Web site. "He was a terrific friend of Temple baseball and a dedicated player, broadcaster, father and husband."
After spending a decade in the majors, Marzano found his niche in the media. Most recently, he was an on-air personality at MLB.com, co-hosting "Leading Off" with Vinny Micucci weekdays at 9 a.m.
Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig issued a statement Saturday on the league’s Web site. "All of Major League Baseball is in mourning today upon the news of the passing of John Marzano," Selig said. "John did a wonderful job in his role with Major League Baseball Advanced Media. We are greatly saddened by this unforeseen tragedy."
He also was well-liked at Comcast SportsNet, where he would talk all things Philadelphia sports. Prior to joining MLB.com in early 2007, Marzano was the network’s main baseball analyst, appearing after every Phillies game, and making weekly appearances on "Daily News Live" — most recently Nov. 17 — with host Michael Barkann.
"I never saw him get angry at anyone. I never saw him raise his voice in anger. I only saw him laugh and joke and smile and talk about baseball and his family — both with joy and pride," Barkann said following news of Marzano’s death. "He could be goofing around one minute and snap right back into baseball analysis the next, without missing a breath.
"My favorite moments with him were on ‘Daily News Live,’ when we could vamp a little bit and mess around. He always feigned insult when his segment was up, but in truth, he hated to leave the set. He wanted to keep laughing and having fun. So did I."
Marzano is survived by wife Terri (n�e Cava); daughters Dominique and Danielle; mother Laura; and two grandchildren.
His viewing will be held 5 to 9 p.m. April 24 and 8:15 to 9:15 a.m. April 25 at Baldi Funeral Home, 1331 S. Broad St. His funeral Mass is 10 a.m. April 25 at Annunciation B.V.M. Church, 10th and Dickinson streets.
Donations in his memory may be made to The Jaden Brady and Ariana Marzano College Fund, c/o PNC Bank, 1544 Packer Ave., Phila., PA 19145.
For more on the life and career of John Marzano, see page 46.
Contact Staff Sports Writer Bill Gelman at bgelman@southphillyreview.com or ext. 123.
