Someone Punched Jim Fregosi

[Mac]

The manager had been tuned up.

Jim Fregosi had cuts around his left eye. His pitching coach, Mel Queen, looked no better.

Fregosi insisted it was no big deal, and it wasn’t a stretch of the imagination to think Fregosi would wear a punch in Philadelphia. He was far from a popular figure in the city, having managed the Phillies from ‘91-’96. Despite making the World Series in ‘93, Fregosi helmed some underwhelming Philadelphia squads and was frequently criticized in the press.

Having replaced noted liar Tim Johnson before the ‘99 season, Fregosi was in his first year back as a major league manager with the Blue Jays, and his return to the City of Brotherly Love ended in an 8-4 defeat in the opener of a three-game series between the two teams on June 11.

“The king rat, and I don’t really mean that affectionately, was Jim Fregosi,” said Philadelphia sports radio figure Mike Missanelli decades later, if you are wondering what Fregosi had dealt with. (photo credit: MLB)

After the loss, Fregosi, Queen, Dave Hollins and others headed to the nearby Holiday Inn. Fregosi knew where to take the group. In the ‘90s, the Holiday Inn in South Philadelphia served as an intersection between the sports world and all other walks of life. Built close to the Vet and the Spectrum, the hotel complex opened in 1974 as a Hilton Inn and hosted acts such as Elvis as they played at the nearby venues. Like the facilities it resided next to, the 240-room hotel was quickly outdated, and despite its prime location, it was mismanaged and plunged into bankruptcy twice. In 1993, former Eagles quarterback Ron Jaworski purchased the property, and it was relaunched as a Holiday Inn.

Jaworski's post-retirement investment was carried by the hotels’ two other properties: a finer dining restaurant named after the movie Jaws and a sports bar named Legends. Among those who frequented the sports bar was Joey Merlino, the boss of a Philadelphia crime family who allegedly used the hotel to make guys and had made headlines when he sat in Eric Lindros’ seats at the Flyers game in the mid-90s. To this day, Merlino insists it was a coincidence, but newspapers in Philadelphia ran with the story at the time, accusing Merlino and Lindros of having dealings past the few times they previously acknowledged meeting (dealings Merlino still vigorously denies).

Dave Hollins' luck was about to turn. Hollins had hit for pitcher Joey Hamilton that night and, with the bases loaded, popped out for the final out of the sixth with the Blue Jays down 3-0. Done commiserating, Hollins decided to leave Legends around 1:00 a.m., just missing the ensuing melee that wounded his coaches.

The 57-year-old Fregosi said he was introduced to someone in a group of six, and when he put his arm around the person to greet them, another “guy came up, punched me in the face,” and a scuffle ensued for a few minutes as security intervened and local police were called. When Fregosi declined to file a complaint with police, the patron was released. Toronto would split the next two games before Fregosi and the Blue Jays headed home. “It was an enjoyable return,” joked Fregosi, “I got one black eye here, and my wife will probably give me another one when I get home.”

Fregosi’s humour likely diminished when he woke up on Monday to not another black eye, but to see the story growing legs. A newspaper in New Jersey reported that Fregosi’s assailant was none other than Joey Merlino. Published rumours said that the punch was retaliatory for remarks Fregosi made years ago towards the people of South Philly, where the Italian Mafia was headquartered. Fregosi hadn’t been the only person reluctant to pursue the assault further that night. Other patrons also claimed silence to whatever took place inside Legends. “I was there all night. Nothing happened,” said one man who refused to provide his name. 

Reached for comment on the reports, Merlino denied any involvement in the fight through his lawyer. Merlino had never met Fregosi and certainly had no beef with him. The police hadn’t talked to him about the fight. It was all newspaper BS. Again. “They put that kid’s name out there anytime something comes up,” said his attorney Joseph Santaguida, “He wasn’t even there that night. He was out at a party with his family.” 

Police had reopened their investigation after the newspaper story, but nothing came of it. MLB opened its own investigation and came to a similar conclusion. “I haven’t heard anything that would indicate (a mob link),” said Kevin Hallinan, executive director in charge of security.  

There was at least one person in Philadelphia who felt for Fregosi through the ordeal. “I feel really sorry for Jimmy because of everything he’s had to go through,” said the hotel manager in the aftermath of the incident. “It’s something he couldn’t control. He’s a great individual and the employees...really look up to him.”

Was Jim Fregosi hit by the mob? To quote another famous Philadelphian, it’s inconclusive. A story that sounds better than the likelihood of it happening. The story vanished and was replaced by news of Merlino being arrested on more serious charges a few weeks later, ending up spending over a decade behind bars on racketeering charges. He is no longer in the mob; now a restaurateur and podcaster, who we may hope will comment on this story one day as he did the Lindros’ affair.

As for Legends? It was demolished in 2018, but not before being linked to another story that gave professional sports a black eye. While playing for the Flyers in the ‘90s, Rick Tocchet became acquainted with Legends bartender James Harney when he frequented the establishment after games. The two eventually pled guilty to charges from their involvement in a gambling ring linked to the crime family run by Merlino, a scandal that hit the NHL in the mid-2000s and has been forgotten enough that Tocchet is currently the head coach of the Flyers. Live! Hotel and Casino might offer more amenities, but it doesn’t offer the stories of the former hotel that sat where it stands.

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