Duane Ward's death stuns Blue Jays: 'Really, really sad about it' - Sportsnet.ca
Blue Jays community mourns
The Toronto Blue Jays community is in mourning following the death of former pitcher Duane Ward at the age of 62. The announcement was made by the Blue Jays on Sunday, stating that Ward passed away from natural causes. The news came as a shock to many of his former teammates who had gathered in Toronto for a statue unveiling event.
Ward had been in Toronto for the weekend’s festivities, which included the unveiling of the Back-to-Back World Series Statue and a celebration for Joe Carter. Many of his former teammates, including Tom Henke, had spent time with Ward shortly before his passing.
Henke recalled having dinner with Ward on Friday night, noting that Ward seemed tired and left early. They had planned to ride together in a parade of Blue Jays pickup trucks on Saturday afternoon, but Ward was absent. Henke rode alone, and it was later that day that the devastating news was shared with the team.
A legacy on the mound
Ward, a native of Park View, N.M., leaves behind a significant legacy with the Blue Jays. He was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 2020. Acquired from the Atlanta Braves on July 6, 1986, Ward initially joined the Blue Jays as a 22-year-old starter.
He transitioned to the bullpen by the 1988 season, becoming a dominant force. For five consecutive years, he pitched over 100 innings, serving as the team’s primary set-up man, often covering the seventh and eighth innings before Henke closed out games. After Henke departed as a free agent following the 1992 season, Ward took over the closer role.
In his first year as closer, Ward led the American League with 45 saves, posting a 2.13 ERA over 71.2 innings, and earning his only All-Star selection. Former Milwaukee Brewers closer Dan Plesac described Ward as a “dominant pitcher” with a “heavy, high 90s, power sinker.”
From 1988 to 1993, Ward pitched 634.1 innings across 434 games, accumulating 121 saves, a 2.98 ERA, and striking out 657 batters. His partnership with Henke for five of those six years was instrumental in shortening games for manager Cito Gaston, providing an early example of the effective bullpen strategies seen in baseball today.
Gaston noted that with Henke and Ward in the bullpen, there was no concern about the eighth and ninth innings. Ward was a crucial part of both World Series championship teams. In the 1993 World Series against the Phillies, he saved Game 1 and Game 4, and was the winning pitcher in Game 6, the night of Joe Carter’s home run.
The previous year, in the World Series against his former team, the Atlanta Braves, Ward was the winning pitcher in Game 2 and Game 3. Across both World Series victories, Ward was the winning pitcher in three games and recorded saves in two others.
Teammates remember Ward
Henke described Ward as intense and hardworking, always prepared to pitch, contrasting with his own more easygoing personality. Despite their differing temperaments, they maintained a strong professional bond. Henke recalled Ward’s superstitions, including needing to play catch with him every day before batting practice.
Gaston remembered Ward as a player who was “never late” and made his job easier. He also shared an anecdote about Ward’s competitive spirit, where Ward would tell him to return to the dugout during mound visits, confident in his ability to get batters out. Henke stated that Ward loved being a Blue Jay, and that the camaraderie among the former players during the recent gathering was a reminder of their shared history.
Source: sportsnet.ca
