Former Toronto Blue Jays reliever Duane Ward, a key member of the club’s back-to-back 1992 and 1993 World Series championship teams, has died at the age of 62. The Blue Jays announced that Ward passed away from natural causes in Toronto on July 19, 2026. He had traveled to Toronto for the weekend’s celebration honoring the championship teams and the unveiling of the Joe Carter statue but was unable to attend the ceremony.
Ward was one of the greatest relief pitchers in franchise history. After serving as Tom Henke’s dominant setup man, he became Toronto’s closer in 1993 and set a franchise record with 45 saves that season. He was an All-Star in 1993 and played a pivotal role in both World Series championship runs.
He finished his Blue Jays career with:
121 saves (second in franchise history)
3.28 ERA
679 strikeouts in 462 appearances
Two World Series championships (1992, 1993)
Ward was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 2020, cementing his legacy as one of the finest relievers to ever wear a Blue Jays uniform.
His passing is a tremendous loss for the Blue Jays family and for baseball in Canada. He will be remembered not only for his dominant fastball and postseason heroics, but also for the impact he had on one of the greatest eras in Blue Jays history.
