Blue Jays Mourn Loss of World Series Legend Duane Ward
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The franchise honors a cornerstone of its 1992 and 1993 championship eras following the death of the All-Star reliever.
The Toronto Blue Jays announced Sunday that Duane Ward, a pivotal figure in the team's most successful era, has died at age 62. According to reporting from BlogTO and CityNews Toronto, the team stated that Ward passed away of natural causes in Toronto.
Ward's death comes immediately after a weekend of celebration for the franchise. BlogTO reports that Ward had traveled to Toronto on Friday to join members of the 1992 and 1993 World Series championship teams. However, he was absent from Saturday's pre-game festivities, which included the unveiling of a statue commemorating Joe Carter's walk-off home run in 1993.
Over a career spanning from 1986 to 1995, Ward appeared in 452 games for the Blue Jays. As detailed by CityNews Toronto, he served as a dependable late-inning reliever and setup man before becoming the team's closer in 1993. During that season, Ward earned an American League All-Star selection and led the league with 45 saves. He retired with 121 saves, ranking him among the franchise leaders.
In a statement, the Blue Jays described the Parkview, NM native as a "cornerstone of Blue Jays baseball" and one of the most beloved relievers in the organization's history. Ward's legacy was previously recognized in 2020 when he was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.