Former Blue Jays reliever Duane Ward dead at 62 while in Toronto for World Series tribute

Former MLB reliever Duane Ward, known for helping the Toronto Blue Jays triumph World Series successful the 1990s, has died. He was 62 years old.

The Blue Jays announced Ward’s decease connected Sunday, saying helium died of earthy causes portion successful Toronto.

Ward was successful Toronto for the unveiling of a statue extracurricular the Blue Jays’ location Rogers Centre to commemorate the back-to-back World Series title from 1992 and 1993, which helium was a portion of.

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Duane Ward of the Toronto Blue Jays winds up to transportation against the Oakland Athletics during a crippled successful Oakland, California. (Getty Images)

The unveiling was acceptable for Saturday, wherever implicit 2 twelve players, coaches and executives were connected manus to spot it for the archetypal time.

"Duane volition beryllium profoundly missed by our fans, and we widen our heartfelt condolences to his family," the Blue Jays said successful a statement. "Duane volition ever beryllium a cherished portion of the Blue Jays family, and we volition beryllium everlastingly grateful for his contributions to our enactment and to shot successful Canada."

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The Blue Jays besides had a tribute for Ward earlier Sunday’s archetypal transportation against the Chicago White Sox, holding a infinitesimal of soundlessness for him aft a montage played connected the videoboard successful halfway field.

Ward was the apical draught prime of the Atlanta Braves retired of Farmington High School successful New Mexico during the 1982 MLB Draft, but portion helium made his large league debut with the club, helium didn’t past determination long.

Ward was traded to the Blue Jays midway done the 1986 season, and helium genuinely recovered a location northbound of the border.

He spent parts of 9 years with the ballclub, turning into a cardinal reliever that could beryllium relied upon arsenic the Blue Jays proved they had what it took to reach, and win, the World Series successful the aboriginal 1990s.

A infinitesimal of soundlessness was held earlier the crippled for erstwhile Blue Jays pitcher Duane Ward, who died, arsenic the Toronto Blue Jays played the Chicago White Sox astatine Rogers Centre successful Toronto, Ontario, connected July 19, 2026. (Richard Lautens/Toronto Star)

Ward’s champion play came during the 1993 World Series run, starring the league with 70 games finished and 45 saves, portion owning a 2.13 ERA crossed 71.2 innings (71 games).

Ward besides had a ascendant 1.95 ERA during the 1992 season, earning himself 12 saves, and 103 strikeouts crossed 101.1 innings pitched.

In the postseason, Ward was conscionable arsenic exceptional, owning a 1.13 ERA and 2 saves during his World Series appearances. And though Game 6 of the 1993 World Series volition everlastingly beryllium remembered for Joe Carter’s walk-off location tally against the Philadelphia Phillies, it was Ward who earned the triumph arsenic the pitcher that unopen the doorway to let that to happen.

"Whether mounting the signifier successful the eighth inning oregon closing retired wins, helium volition beryllium remembered for the relation helium played successful immoderate of the top moments successful Blue Jays history," the team’s connection continued.

Former MLB subordinate Duane Ward throws retired the ceremonial archetypal transportation earlier Game 3 of the American League Division Series betwixt the Texas Rangers and the Toronto Blue Jays astatine Rogers Centre successful Toronto, Canada. (Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)

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After an limb wounded forced Ward to miss the full 1994 season, helium pitched successful conscionable 4 games successful 1995 earlier helium past saw a large league mound.

In 462 games, Ward earned a vocation 3.28 ERA with 679 strikeouts implicit 666.2 innings pitched.

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