The Toronto Blue Jays announced Sunday that former pitcher Duane Ward has died at 62, a somber development that came during the same weekend the franchise honored its back-to-back World Series champions from the early 1990s. The team said Ward died in Toronto of natural causes. He had returned to the city on Friday but was not present Saturday at Rogers Centre, where more than 20 players and coaches from the 1992 and 1993 title teams gathered for the unveiling of a statue commemorating those historic championships.
In a statement, the Blue Jays said: “Duane will be deeply missed by our fans, and we extend our heartfelt condolences to his family. 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.” Ward played a key role in Toronto’s first World Series triumph in 1992 as the club’s dominant setup man before taking over as closer during the 1993 championship season.
Key contributor to Blue Jays glory
The organization added: “Whether setting the stage in the eighth inning or closing out wins, he will be remembered for the role he played in some of the greatest moments in Blue Jays history.” Ward made his major-league breakthrough with the Atlanta Braves in 1986, but he was traded to Toronto later that year and spent the rest of his career with the Blue Jays. After helping deliver the franchise’s second World Series crown, he missed the entire 1994 season because of an arm injury and was unable to return to the dominant form that had defined his peak.
Ward retires as Blue Jays face challenges
Ward came back in 1995 but appeared in only four games before retiring later that year. On Saturday, with many of Ward’s former teammates in attendance, the Blue Jays edged the Chicago White Sox 1-0. Toronto is scheduled to finish the three-game series against Chicago on Sunday afternoon. Last year, the Blue Jays came close to adding a third World Series title to the two won by Ward’s teams, but fell 4-3 to the Los Angeles Dodgers in an all-time classic. Through the 2026 season so far, Toronto sits last in the American League East at 46-52.
