Saturday, April 19, 2008
MARZ ATTACKS
My favorite memory of former Mariner catcher John Marzano is depicted above. In a Yankees/Mariners game at the Kingdome, Paul O'Neill was at the plate and chirped at the umpire. Marzano took exception to said chirping, and then a skirmish ensued. With that, Marzano wasn't just Dan Wilson's backup catcher, he had cemented himself in the hearts of Mariner fans throughout the Northwest. The fact that he hit .287 in 39 games for the AL West-winning 1997 team didn't hurt either.
John Robert Marzano unexpectedly left us today at the much-too-young age of 45, but his memory will live on with Mariner fans, not to mention all his friends, family, etc., in his native Philadelphia. To give an extra Mariner perspective to this, Jamie Moyer, also from the Philadephia area, was born about three months before Marzano.
Marzano, probably the awesomest backup catcher in the Dan Wilson era, will be missed.
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