Shocking Loss: Blue Jays Legend Duane Ward Dead at 62—Baseball Mourns

What Happened?

Duane Ward, who was 1 of the astir palmy and well-loved alleviation pitchers successful Toronto Blue Jays history, has died astatine the property of 62. The Blue Jays squad shared this bittersweet quality connected Sunday.

• He passed distant from earthy causes successful the metropolis of Toronto.
• The squad said his decease was owed to earthy causes, meaning it was not from an mishap oregon unwellness caused by extracurricular factors.

A Sad Absence astatine a Team Reunion

Duane Ward had traveled to Toronto connected Friday with his aged teammates from the 1992 and 1993 World Series title teams.

• These were peculiar reunions due to the fact that those teams won the biggest prize successful shot 2 years successful a row.
• However, Ward was not astatine the Saturday pre-game ceremonial wherever the squad showed disconnected its newest statue.
• The statue lawsuit was to grant the franchise’s history, and his teammates were there, but helium was missing.

Ward’s Time with the Blue Jays

Ward played for the Toronto Blue Jays for 10 seasons, from 1986 to 1995.

• He played successful 452 games, which is simply a batch for a reliever (a pitcher who comes successful aboriginal successful the crippled to assistance support a lead).
• He became known arsenic 1 of the astir reliable late-inning relievers successful the team’s history.
• A "reliever" is simply a pitcher who takes implicit from the starting pitcher.
• A "save" is erstwhile a pitcher finishes a crippled without losing a lead, helping the squad win.
• Ward finished his Blue Jays vocation with 121 saves, which puts him among the team’s all-time leaders.
• He was some a setup antheral (a pitcher who gets the crippled acceptable for the last pitcher) and a person (the past pitcher who finishes the game).

Important Point: Ward was a cardinal portion of 1 of the astir palmy periods successful Blue Jays history, helping the squad triumph championships.

Helping the Team Win Big

The right-handed pitcher (meaning helium threw with his close hand) was precise important successful helping the Blue Jays triumph back-to-back World Series titles successful 1992 and 1993.

• His champion twelvemonth was 1993.
• In 1993, helium was chosen arsenic an American League All-Star (a peculiar grant for the champion players).
• That aforesaid year, helium led the league with 45 saves, which was the astir of anyone.

Honored for His Work

Ward’s assistance to shot did not spell unnoticed.

• In 2020, helium was added to the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.
• This is simply a spot that remembers the champion radical successful Canadian shot history.

Summary

Duane Ward, a fan-favorite Toronto Blue Jays alleviation pitcher, died astatine 62 from earthy causes successful Toronto. He was successful municipality with his 1992 and 1993 title teammates but missed the statue ceremony. Over 10 seasons (1986–1995), helium played 452 games, earned 121 saves, and helped the squad triumph 2 World Series. His champion twelvemonth was 1993 with 45 saves and an All-Star pick. He joined the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame successful 2020.

FAQ

Who was Duane Ward?
He was a alleviation pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays from 1986 to 1995 and 1 of the astir loved players successful squad history.

How did Duane Ward die?
He died of earthy causes successful Toronto astatine property 62, according to the team.

What did Ward bash successful 1993?
He was an All-Star and led the American League with 45 saves, helping the Blue Jays triumph the World Series.

What is the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame?
It is simply a hallway that honors the top contributors to shot successful Canada. Ward was inducted successful 2020.