Marz Man was more than a former player...he was a great friend!

When you took a walk with "Johnny Marz" for just five minutes through the streets of South Philly, you got a sense of just how many lives he touched.

I spent a lot of time with him and walked away with a huge smile on my face just for having known him. John took me under his wing and treated me as if I were his own son. He always spoke fondly of his former teammates, his loving family and his love of baseball.

He repeatedly used to tell me that his father's best advice to him was: "It is nice to be important but it is more important to be nice." He lived every day that way and I will take it with me forever. My heart goes out to his family.

I love him like family and I already miss him.