Duane Ward, two-time World Series winning pitcher with the Toronto Blue Jays, has died at age 62.<\/p>\n
Ward died in Toronto of natural causes, the Blue Jays noted on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Ward played nine seasons with the Blue Jays and helped lead the club to World Series wins in 1992 and 1993.<\/p>\n
The Blue Jays noted Rankin arrived in Toronto on Friday but did not attend Saturday’s celebration of the club’s back-to-back titles.<\/p>\n
Ward was pictured with some of his former Blue Jays teammates in a photograph shared Saturday by former Blue Jays starter Todd Stottlemyre.<\/p>\n
“It is with profound sadness that the Toronto Blue Jays mourn the passing of pitcher Duane ward, one of the most accomplished and beloved relievers in franchise history,” the Blue Jays said in a statement.<\/p>\n
“Duane will be deeply missed by our tans, 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.”<\/p>\n
The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame noted in a statement that Ward “was an active member of the club’s alumni in many charitable efforts and in recent years, he had been one of the lead instructors at baseball clinics across Canada.”<\/p>\n
Ward, drafted by the Atlanta Braves in 1982, was traded to the Blue Jays in 1986.<\/p>\n
He made his Blue Jays debut later that season and went on to become a key part of the team that made two ALCS appearances and won two titles between 1989 and 1993.<\/p>\n
Ward appeared in 15 games during the Blue Jays’ back-to-back World Series runs as part of a dominant bullpen also starring Tom Henke.<\/p>\n
He also earned an AL All-Star nod while leading MLB with 45 saves in 1993.<\/p>\n