When the Red Sox were playing hardball with two-time All-Star and free agent Rich Gedman during the 1986-87 off-season, John Harrington, who was handling the finances for the club then, wasn’t concerned about the club’s catching situation for the upcoming season.
“We’ve got John Marzano, a first-round draft choice,” Harrington reminded the inquiring media. “We think he’s going to be a good player.”
Gedman declined arbitration in January and became a full-fledged free agent, forfeiting any chance to rejoin the Red Sox until May. But it was the time of collusion between the owners. Gedman received no worthwhile offers from other clubs and ended up being forced to re-sign with the Red Sox. His career was never the same after that, although he did receive a healthy six-figure settlement from MLB some years later after collusion had been proven.
As for Marzano, he never became the star Harrington and the Red Sox thought he would be.
Marzano was never better than a back-up catcher during his 10 seasons in the majors from 1987-98 with the Red Sox, Rangers, and Mariners, hitting .241-11-72 in 301 games.
Marzano died today in Philadelphia at the age of 45. He fell down the stairs at his home, apparently after suffering a heart attack. He had been working as an on-air personality at MLB.com.
Marzano was the Red Sox’ first-round draft pick, the 14th choice overall, in 1984 out of Temple University. He also played for the U.S. Olympic Baseball Team that summer.
The Red Sox held a moment of silence for Marzano before tonight’s game against the Rangers.