Duane Ward was supposed to spend Saturday at Rogers Centre celebrating the 1992 and 1993 World Series championships he helped secure. Instead, the Toronto Blue Jays spent Sunday mourning one of the finest relief pitchers in franchise history.
Ward arrived in Toronto on Friday and joined several former teammates for dinner. He was expected to appear at Saturday’s ceremony unveiling a statue honoring the championship teams, but he did not attend.
The Blue Jays announced early Sunday that Ward had died in Toronto of natural causes. He was 62. Club officials did not release further details about the exact time or location of his death.
Toronto honored Ward before Sunday’s game against the Chicago White Sox with a scoreboard tribute and a moment of silence. His death came during a weekend designed to celebrate the greatest period in Blue Jays history, an era shaped by his durability, power and command of the most demanding innings.
The arm that shortened games
Ward joined Toronto in July 1986 when the Blue Jays acquired him from the Atlanta Braves for veteran pitcher Doyle Alexander. He arrived as a hard-throwing starter with inconsistent control. By 1988, he had found his place in the bullpen and developed into one of baseball’s most imposing relief pitchers.
His workload separated him from most modern relievers. From 1988 through 1992, Ward averaged more than 112 innings per season. The right-hander regularly handled the 7th and 8th innings before Tom Henke took over in the 9th. Some nights, either pitcher worked longer.
Ward challenged hitters with a sinking fastball that reached the high 90s. His slider gave him another weapon when batters began preparing for the velocity. Opposing hitters knew what was coming, but few could square it up consistently.
Manager Cito Gaston could build games around Ward and Henke. When Toronto carried a lead into the final 3 innings, opponents often had little room to recover. Their partnership gave the Blue Jays 2 power arms capable of controlling the most important moments of a game.
Ward carved out his place in franchise history during those late innings. His value was not limited to traditional save situations. Gaston called on him whenever Toronto needed a rally stopped, often against the strongest part of an opposing lineup.
From setup workhorse to record-setting closer
Ward reached another level during Toronto’s first championship season. He posted a 1.95 ERA in 1992 and struck out 103 batters while serving as Henke’s primary setup man.
That production came across 79 appearances and more than 100 innings. Few late-inning pitchers could match his combination of durability and dominance, even during that era.
Henke left after the 1992 World Series, creating an opening in the 9th inning. Ward responded by producing the finest closing season in Blue Jays history.
He earned his only All-Star selection in 1993. Ward led the American League with 45 saves and recorded a 2.13 ERA. Across 71 2/3 innings, he struck out 97 batters and finished 5th in American League Cy Young Award voting.
His 45 saves remain Toronto’s single-season record. Roberto Osuna came closest with 39 saves in 2017, but no other Blue Jays closer has reached 40.
Ward did more than accept a new role. He evolved from a workhorse setup man into a championship closer, carrying the same aggressive approach into shorter and more decisive appearances.
The ninth inning before Carter’s swing
Ward thrived under postseason pressure. He delivered 3 1/3 scoreless innings during the 1992 World Series against Atlanta, earning 2 victories as Toronto captured its first championship.
A year later, he recorded saves in Games 1 and 4 against Philadelphia. His final appearance of the series came in Game 6, after the Phillies had erased a Toronto lead with 5 runs in the 7th inning.
Ward entered the top of the 9th with Toronto trailing 6 to 5. He retired Philadelphia without allowing a hit or walk, keeping the deficit at 1 run and giving the heart of the Blue Jays lineup one final opportunity.
Rickey Henderson walked to begin the bottom half. Paul Molitor followed with a single before Joe Carter hit the championship-winning 3-run home run.
Because Ward had held Philadelphia scoreless in the top of the inning, he became the winning pitcher. Carter supplied the unforgettable image, but Ward handled the quieter assignment that made it possible.
A celebration weekend turns somber
The shock of Ward’s death changed the mood of a weekend built around former teammates reconnecting.
Ward and Henke had spoken during Friday night’s alumni dinner. They were scheduled to ride together onto the Rogers Centre field during Saturday’s ceremony. When the time came, Ward was missing, and Henke made the trip without his longtime bullpen partner.
Former Blue Jays pitcher Todd Stottlemyre expressed the grief shared by the championship group. In a public tribute, he wrote that “a part of all of us was lost” before offering prayers to Ward’s family.
Blue Jays manager John Schneider remembered Ward as a lively presence during alumni gatherings. He described him as the funniest person in the room and often the one having the most fun.
Henke’s memories offered another glimpse into their partnership. Ward was deeply superstitious and insisted that Henke play catch with him before batting practice. Their personalities differed, but they fit together. Henke was calm and quiet, while Ward brought intensity, energy and a constant readiness to pitch.
That connection continued long after their playing careers ended. Ward remained involved with the Blue Jays alumni community and supported baseball clinics for young players across Canada.
Supporters also remembered meeting him away from the major-league stage. Several shared stories about attending his clinics as children and learning from a pitcher they had watched during Toronto’s championship years.
Ward leaves a permanent place in Blue Jays history
Ward appeared in 452 games for Toronto and recorded 121 saves. Both totals rank 2nd among Blue Jays pitchers. Henke remains the franchise’s career saves leader with 217.
The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame selected Ward for induction in 2020. That honor recognized his performance with Toronto, his postseason success and his influence on baseball across Canada.
His statistics explain why he belongs among the franchise’s greatest relievers. They do not fully capture what he gave the Blue Jays during their rise.
Ward absorbed innings that teams now divide among several specialists. He protected leads before the setup role had a fixed definition. When Toronto needed him to replace Henke, Ward became the league’s leading closer and helped finish another championship season.
Before Joe Carter could touch them all, Duane Ward had to hold the line. For Toronto, he almost always did.
READ MORE: North of the Border Champions: Toronto Blue Jays Make History in 1992
FAQS
Q1. How old was Duane Ward when he died?
Duane Ward was 62. The Blue Jays said he died of natural causes in Toronto.
Q2. How many saves did Duane Ward record in 1993?
Ward recorded 45 saves in 1993. The total led the American League and remains Toronto’s single-season franchise record.
Q3. What role did Duane Ward play in the Blue Jays’ championships?
He served as Toronto’s primary setup man in 1992, then became the closer in 1993. The Blue Jays won the World Series both seasons.
Q4. Was Duane Ward the winning pitcher in 1993 World Series Game 6?
Yes. Ward pitched a scoreless top of the 9th before Joe Carter’s 3-run home run gave Toronto the championship.
Q5. How many career saves did Duane Ward have with Toronto?
Ward recorded 121 saves for Toronto, ranking 2nd in franchise history behind Tom Henke’s 217.
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