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Former MLB reliever Duane Ward, known for helping the Toronto Blue Jays win the World Series in the 1990s, has died. He was 62 years old.
The Blue Jays announced Ward’s death on Sunday, saying he died of natural causes while in Toronto.
Ward was in Toronto for the unveiling of a statue outside the Rogers Centre, home of the Blue Jays, to commemorate the back-to-back World Series championships of 1992 and 1993, of which he was a part.
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Duane Ward of the Toronto Blue Jays finds himself pitching against the Oakland Athletics during a game in Oakland, California. (Getty Images)
The unveiling was scheduled for Saturday, where more than two dozen players, coaches and executives were on hand to see it for the first time.
“Duane will be greatly missed by our fans and we extend our deepest condolences to his family,” the Blue Jays said in a statement. “Duane will always be a valued member of the Blue Jays family and we will be forever grateful for his contributions to our organization and to baseball in Canada.”
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The Blue Jays also honored Ward before Sunday’s first pitch against the Chicago White Sox, granting him a moment of silence after a montage played on the video board in center field.
Ward was the first overall pick of the Atlanta Braves out of Farmington High School in New Mexico in the 1982 MLB draft, but although he made his major league debut with the club, he did not stay there long.
Ward was traded to the Blue Jays midway through the 1986 season and he truly found his home north of the border.
He spent nine years with the ballclub, becoming a key reliable reliever as the Blue Jays proved they had what it took to reach and win the World Series in the early 1990s.
A moment of silence was observed before the game for former Blue Jays pitcher Duane Ward, who died while the Toronto Blue Jays played the Chicago White Sox at the Rogers Center in Toronto, Ontario on July 19, 2026. (Richard Lautens/Toronto Star)
Ward’s best season came in the 1993 World Series, leading the league with 70 games completed and 45 saves, while owning a 2.13 ERA in 71.2 innings (71 games).
Ward also had a dominant 1.95 ERA during the 1992 season, earning 12 saves and 103 strikeouts in 101.1 innings pitched.
In the postseason, Ward was equally exceptional, owning a 1.13 ERA and two saves in his World Series appearances. And while Game 6 of the 1993 World Series will be remembered for Joe Carter’s home run against the Philadelphia Phillies, it was Ward who earned the victory as the pitcher who closed the door to allow it to happen.
“Whether it was setting up the pitch in the eighth inning or closing out wins, he will be remembered for the role he played in some of the greatest moments in Blue Jays history,” the team statement continued.
Former MLB player Duane Ward throws out the ceremonial first pitch before Game 3 of the American League Division Series between the Texas Rangers and the Toronto Blue Jays at the Rogers Center in Toronto, Canada. (Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
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After an arm injury forced Ward to miss the entire 1994 season, he pitched in only four games in 1995 before seeing a big league mound for the last time.
In 462 games, Ward had a career 3.28 ERA with 679 strikeouts in 666.2 innings pitched.
