TORONTO (AP) — The Toronto Blue Jays announced Sunday that Duane Ward, one of the greatest relief pitchers in franchise history and a two-time World Series champion, has died of natural causes at the age of 62.
According to the team, Ward had traveled to Toronto on Friday alongside several former teammates from the back-to-back championship squads of 1992 and 1993. However, he was not present at Saturday’s pregame ceremony at Rogers Centre, which featured a statue unveiling honoring those title-winning teams. More than two dozen players, coaches, and front office members from those rosters participated in the celebration.
The Blue Jays released a statement expressing their grief: “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.”
Prior to Sunday’s game against the Chicago White Sox, the club honored Ward with a scoreboard tribute video and a moment of silence. The organization did not provide additional details regarding the circumstances surrounding his death.
Over his career with Toronto, which spanned from 1986 to 1995, Ward appeared in 452 games. His 121 career saves stand as the highest total in Blue Jays franchise history.
Ward made his only All-Star team in 1993, the same year he led the entire American League with 45 saves — a single-season record that still belongs to the Blue Jays organization.
In Game 6 of the 1993 World Series against Philadelphia, Ward was the pitcher of record when Joe Carter hit his legendary series-clinching home run, cementing Ward’s place in baseball history.
