Duane Ward, the former Toronto Blue Jays reliever who played a major role on the franchise's back-to-back World Series-winning teams in the early 1990s, has died at 62. The team announced the news Sunday.
Ward is being remembered as a key piece of Toronto's bullpen during one of the most successful stretches in club history. His work in relief helped support the Blue Jays as they won consecutive championships, making him a notable figure from that era.
News of Ward's death has prompted renewed attention on his place in Blue Jays history and his importance to those title-winning teams. For many fans, his name remains closely tied to the dominant bullpen performances that helped define Toronto's rise in the early 1990s.
While only limited details were immediately available, Ward's death marks the loss of a pitcher strongly associated with the Blue Jays' championship legacy. He remains one of the standout relievers connected to the club's World Series success.
