Longtime big league reliever Duane Ward passed away this weekend, as announced by the Blue Jays. Ward passed in Toronto, as the right-hander was among the many former Jays in town for the unveiling of the Joe Carter statue in commemoration of the 1992-93 World Series championship teams. Ward arrived in Toronto on Friday but didn’t attend the statue ceremony prior to Saturday’s game.
Selected ninth overall by the Braves in the 1982 draft, Ward made his big league debut for Atlanta in 1986 but was dealt that July to the Jays for Doyle Alexander. Ward then spent the rest of his career in Toronto, becoming a staple of the club’s bullpen first as a set-up man and then as a closer.
The 1988 season was Ward’s first full year in the majors, and he posted a 3.30 ERA over 64 appearances and 111 2/3 innings. That year established Ward as the Blue Jays’ chief set-up man in front of closer Tom Henke, and the two right-handers became one of the most dominant late-game duos of the era. Henke usually acted in a traditional closer role and Ward logged a lot of innings as more of a fireman — from 1988-93, no pitcher in baseball had more appearances than Ward’s 434 games.
Ward’s strong work during this time was recognized by a ninth-place finish in AL Cy Young voting in 1991, when he posted a 2.77 ERA and 30.8% strikeout rate over 107 1/3 innings and generated 4.1 fWAR. With Henke battling groin and shoulder problems that season, Ward also recorded 23 saves, more than capably filling in at closer.
The Blue Jays won their first World Series title in 1992, with Ward contributing a 1.95 ERA over 101 1/3 innings and Henke a 2.26 ERA in 55 2/3 innings. This was the duo’s final season as teammates, as Henke signed a free agent deal to join the Rangers during the offseason. Ward was then elevated to the closer’s role on a full-time basis, and the result was another Toronto championship in 1993 and another superb performance from the right-hander.
Over 71 2/3 innings in 1993, Ward posted a 2.13 ERA and 34.3% strikeout rate, while recording 45 saves. That save total led the American League and is still the single-season record for a Blue Jays pitcher. Ward’s performance was recognized with the only All-Star nod of his career, plus a fifth-place finish in AL Cy Young Award voting.
Unfortunately, the rest of Ward’s big league career consisted of only 2 2/3 innings for the 1995 Blue Jays. Biceps tendinitis and a torn rotator cuff (plus the players’ strike) kept Ward from pitching at all in 1994, and the injuries prematurely ended his career. Ward pitched in eight minor league games for the Cubs in 1996, but that was it for his career at age 32.
Ward finished his career with a 3.28 ERA over 462 games and 666 2/3 innings pitched. The counting numbers include 121 saves and 679 strikeouts, with the latter translating to a 24.4% strikeout rate. Ward was also exceptional at keeping the ball in the park, as he allowed only 32 home runs over his career.
We at MLB Trade Rumors send our condolences to Ward’s family, friends, and fans.
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