Duane Ward, a key relief pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays during their back-to-back World Series championships in 1992 and 1993, has died at the age of 62. The team announced his passing Sunday morning, stating he died of natural causes. Ward had traveled to Toronto on Friday in anticipation of a statue unveiling ceremony commemorating the team's championship victories. He was unable to attend the ceremony on Saturday.
Career Highlights
Ward, a native of New Mexico, holds the Blue Jays franchise record for saves in a single season with 45, set in 1993, the same year he earned his only All-Star selection. During the 1992 World Series against the Atlanta Braves, Ward recorded two wins and two holds, pitching 3 1/3 shutout innings. In the 1993 postseason, he amassed four saves, including two in the World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies. He was credited with the win in Game 6, the deciding game of the series, which concluded with Joe Carter's famous walk-off home run.
Career Trajectory
Originally drafted by the Braves in 1982, Ward was traded to Toronto during his first Major League Baseball season in 1986 and remained with the Blue Jays for the remainder of his career. He concluded his playing days with a career earned run average of 3.28, 121 saves, and 679 strikeouts in 462 appearances. In 2020, Ward was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.
The Blue Jays organization expressed profound sadness over Ward's passing. "Duane will be deeply missed by our fans, and we extend our heartfelt condolences to his family," the team stated. "Duane will always be a cherished part of the Blue Jays family, and we will forever be grateful for his contributions to our organization and to baseball in Canada."