Rich Marazzi is the author of RULEBALL which was featured in the March 27, 2005 edition of the New York Times and Bill Madden's New York Daily News column, September 18, 2005. He is the rules consultant for the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Cleveland Indians and Houston Astros. He was affiliated with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2005. In 2007 he served as a rules consultant for the new Israel Baseball League. In October of 2006, Rich participated in the Houston Astros organizational meetings in Houston, Texas.

A native of Ansonia, Connecticut, Marazzi has authored five baseball books including the Rules and Lore of Baseball (1980) which was endorsed by the late umpire Nick Bremigan who also provided input. In the book, virtually every rule comes alive through actual situations that occured in major and minor league games. Bremigan, one of the top rules experts of his time, referred to the book as "a masterpiece."

Rich has been a monthly rules columnist for the Baseball Digest since 1988 and has also served in the same capacity for Yankees Magazine and Referee Magazine over the years. In the past 30 years he has written over 300 articles on the subject of baseball rules. He is considered by many as the country's foremost rules expert in applying the rules to game situations for players, coaches and managers. His 32 years spent as a high school teacher, coach, and administrator allows him to utilize his classroom skills to capture the attention of his audience and communicate the rules by introducing a variety of elements in an exciting "give-and-take" style. His video presentation makes the rules come alive and generates meaningful discussion among the participants.

Marazzi worked 23 years as an umpire at the high school, college and independent league professional levels. He umpired the Old Timer's Day game at Yankee Stadium for 16 consecutive years from 1989-2004.

Rich has worked as a writer and consultant for several major league broadcasters over the years including Mel Allen, George Grande, and John Gordon. He also served as a consultant for the CBS-TV "West 57th Street" segment on major league umpires in 1988. He hosted a baseball radio talk show on 600 WICC in Bridgeport, CT for nine years (1997-2005) before taking his show to 960 WELI in New Haven (2006) and ESPN Radio 1300 in New Haven (2007).This year Rich will start his 12th season as host of the show which will be aired on Saturday mornings from 10-12 on ESPN Radio 1300 and will be streamed on ESPNRadio1300.com.

Marazzi, who has given numerous rules clinics over the years, conducted spring training seminars for the Red Sox (2005), Diamondbacks (2005) and Astros (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008). He was a featured presenter at the Mohegan Sun World Baseball Coaches Convention in 2005, 2006 and 2008. He was also a featured presenter at the Las Vegas Coaches Show in Dec. 2007. In Feb. 2008, he conducted a two-day rules course at The Villages Lifelong Learning College in Florida. He has been a guest on numerous radio and TV shows.

Rich has been married 37 years to the former Loisann Kelly. They have two sons, Rich and Brian.

 
     

Ruleball ~ Rich Marazzi ~ 105 Pulaski Highway ~ Ansonia, CT 06401 ~ 203-735-6671