Duane Ward, Blue Jays World Series Closer, Dead at 62 in Toronto

Duane Ward, one of the most dominant relievers in Toronto Blue Jays history, died Sunday of natural causes in Toronto. He was 62.

Ward flew into the city Friday, joining several former teammates from the Blue Jays' back-to-back 1992 and 1993 World Series championship teams for a weekend of celebration. A statue outside Rogers Centre honoring those title teams was unveiled Saturday with more than two dozen former players, coaches and executives on hand. Ward was not there. The Blue Jays have not detailed why he was absent or the specific circumstances of his death, according to the Associated Press.

"It is with profound sadness that the Toronto Blue Jays mourn the passing of pitcher Duane Ward, one of the most accomplished and beloved relievers in franchise history," the team said in a statement. "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."

Before Sunday's game against the Chicago White Sox, the Blue Jays played a video tribute on the Rogers Centre scoreboard and held a moment of silence for Ward.

From First-Round Pick to Franchise Saves Leader

The Atlanta Braves took Ward in the first round of the 1982 MLB Draft out of Farmington High School in New Mexico. He debuted with Atlanta in 1986 but didn't stick. The Braves traded him to Toronto that July in exchange for pitcher Doyle Alexander.

That trade turned into one of the best moves in Blue Jays history. Ward spent the rest of his career in Toronto, appearing in 452 games between 1986 and 1995. His 121 career saves remain the most in franchise history, according to CBC and CP24.

He formed a shutdown bullpen tandem with Tom Henke through the late 1980s and early '90s, then took over as Toronto's closer once Henke left after the 1992 title. Ward made his only All-Star team in 1993, the same year he led the American League with 45 saves, still the club's single-season record.

The Pitcher Behind Joe Carter's Home Run

Ward's signature moment came in Game 6 of the 1993 World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies. Joe Carter's walk-off home run is what gets replayed every October, but it was Ward who got the win that night, closing the door before Carter ever stepped to the plate.

Across his World Series appearances, Ward posted a 1.13 ERA with two saves. His 1992 regular season was arguably even better on its own terms: a 1.95 ERA, 12 saves and 103 strikeouts over 101.1 innings.

Ward was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 2020, recognition of both his playing career and his work after retirement running coaching clinics for players and coaches across Canada, according to CBC.

Reaction From the Clubhouse

Longtime Blue Jays executive Paul Beeston, who helped assemble Toronto's championship rosters, said he learned of Ward's death in a hallway behind the Rogers Centre press box.

"I immediately thought of all the good times we had together, and we did have a number of good times together," Beeston said, according to CBC and CP24. "He was here when we were going well. Between him and Tom Henke, we only had to play seven-inning games."

Beeston also credited Ward with launching the team's coaching and player clinics nationwide. "He was committed to it. He loved Canada, he loved the Blue Jays," Beeston said.

Current Blue Jays manager John Schneider, who knew Ward personally, called him "the funniest guy in the room."

"That rubbed off on everybody," Schneider said, according to CP24. "You feel for his family and the people around him. Life is hard sometimes. It definitely puts baseball into perspective. I'm so thankful that I got to spend some time with him, and he's one of the great Blue Jays."

The Blue Jays have declined further comment on the circumstances surrounding Ward's death, according to the AP. No additional details on cause or timeline beyond "natural causes" have been released.