Former Major League Baseball reliever Duane Ward, instrumental in the Toronto Blue Jays' back-to-back World Series victories in the early 1990s, has died. He was 62.
The Blue Jays announced Ward's death on Sunday, stating he passed away of natural causes while in Toronto. Ward had been in the city for a ceremony to unveil a statue outside Rogers Centre, honoring the 1992 and 1993 championship teams.
The statue unveiling was scheduled for Saturday, with more than two dozen former players, coaches, and executives in attendance. The Blue Jays expressed their condolences, stating Ward "will be deeply missed by our fans" and is "forever grateful for his contributions to our organization and to baseball in Canada."
Prior to Sunday's game against the Chicago White Sox, the Blue Jays held a moment of silence for Ward after a tribute video was played on the center field videoboard.
Ward began his career as the top draft choice of the Atlanta Braves in 1982. He made his major league debut with Atlanta but was traded to the Blue Jays midway through the 1986 season, where he established himself as a prominent reliever.
During his nine seasons with Toronto, Ward became a reliable presence in the bullpen. His most dominant season came in 1993, the year of the Blue Jays' second World Series title. In that season, he led the league with 70 games finished and 45 saves, posting a 2.13 ERA across 71.2 innings pitched over 71 games. The previous year, 1992, he recorded a 1.95 ERA with 12 saves and 103 strikeouts in 101.1 innings.
Ward also excelled in the postseason, holding a 1.13 ERA and two saves in his World Series appearances. He earned the win in Game 6 of the 1993 World Series, allowing him to set the stage for Joe Carter's series-clinching walk-off home run.
Following an arm injury that caused him to miss the entire 1994 season, Ward pitched in only four games in 1995 before his MLB career concluded. In 462 career games, he finished with a 3.28 ERA and 679 strikeouts over 666.2 innings.