Duane Ward, a former Major League Baseball reliever known for his contributions to the Toronto Blue Jays' World Series victories in the 1990s, has died at the age of 62. The Blue Jays announced his death on Sunday, stating that he passed away from natural causes while in Toronto for a tribute event.
Ward was attending the unveiling of a statue outside Rogers Centre to commemorate the Blue Jays' back-to-back World Series championships in 1992 and 1993. The unveiling was scheduled for Saturday, with numerous former players, coaches, and executives in attendance.
In a statement, the Blue Jays expressed their condolences, stating, "Duane will be deeply missed by our fans, and we extend our heartfelt condolences to his family. Duane will always be a cherished part of the Blue Jays family, and we will be forever grateful for his contributions to our organization and to baseball in Canada."
A moment of silence was held for Ward before Sunday’s game against the Chicago White Sox, accompanied by a video tribute.
Ward was originally drafted by the Atlanta Braves in 1982 but was traded to the Blue Jays in 1986. He became a key reliever for the team, particularly during their World Series runs in the early 1990s. His standout season was in 1993, where he led the league with 70 games finished and 45 saves, achieving a 2.13 ERA over 71.2 innings. In the postseason, he recorded a 1.13 ERA and two saves.
Ward's career was impacted by an arm injury that sidelined him for the entire 1994 season, and he pitched only four games in 1995 before retiring. Over his career, he appeared in 462 games, with a 3.28 ERA and 679 strikeouts in 666.2 innings pitched.