John Marzano died from a fall

Major-league catcher-turned-broadcaster John Marzano died of "postural asphyxia" sustained in a fall in his South Philadelphia apartment, the Medical Examiner's Office said today.

Jeff Moran, a spokesman for the M.E., said contributing factors in Marzano's death were blunt-force trauma and ethanol intoxication. He did not elaborate.

Marzano's widow, Terri, said this afternoon she was told that "Johnny Marz," 45, suffered injuries when he fell down the steps of his South Philadelphia apartment.

"I wear a size 7 and those steps were narrow," Marzano said, who teaches and coaches gymnastics. "They were quite a challenge."

The former ballplayer, who had started hosting a one-hour Webcast for MLB.com shortly before his death, was found in a doorway on April 19.

Marzano said she, his mother, Laura, and their daughters "have spent the last three months in complete horror and shock. We're all completely lost, scuffling around, to make sense of it. It's been especially hard on our daughters."

Dominique, 20, has a 9-month-old son, Jaden, and Danielle, 18, has a 6-month-old daughter, Ariana.

The couple had been married for 25 years, and had their ups and downs, she said. He had been living in the apartment on Passyunk Avenue but had been planning to move back to the couple's home in Washington Township, Gloucester County.

The babies had brought them closer together, she said.

John Marzano, a standout at Central High School and Temple University, was recalled as a passionate player and wisenheimer who had never forgotten his roots at 11th and Wharton Streets.

His father, John, who died in 1988, drilled his son on the fine points of the game and lived to see him play for the Boston Red Sox.

Marzano spent 10 years in the majors with the Red Sox, Texas Rangers and Seattle Mariners. He also played two years in the farm systems of the Cleveland Indians and the Phillies. He also played on the 1984 Olympic team.

After his playing days, Marzano had done postgame analysis of Phillies games on WIP (610) radio and Comcast SportsNet. He also ran a baseball academy.

"We miss him greatly," MLB.com spokesman Matt Gould said today, adding that the New York studio had been renamed in his honor. "His energy is still very much alive."

Terri Marzano said her husband was good for "100 text messages a day. I still expect to hear from him."