Duane Ward, 62, found dead in Las Vegas
The baseball world mourned the loss of Duane Ward, a former Toronto Blue Jays reliever who died at his home in Las Vegas. He was 62 years old, and authorities confirmed that he was discovered after a celebration marking the team's 1992 and 1993 World Series titles in Toronto.
Born in the small community of Park View, New Mexico, Ward grew up in a family that loved the Braves. He starred in basketball at Farmington High School before being drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the first round of the 1982 June Amateur Draft.
From the minors to the majors
After climbing through the Braves' system, Ward made his MLB debut and quickly became known for a fastball that could reach 95 miles per hour. He posted a 3.30 career ERA and logged 91 strikeouts against 60 walks in 1988, numbers that earned him a place on the American League All‑Star team the following year.
Blue Jays glory and a record‑setting season
Ward's career took a defining turn when he joined the Toronto Blue Jays. He was a pivotal piece of the club's back‑to‑back World Series championships in 1992 and 1993, and in 1993 he led the American League with 45 saves, the highest total in the league that season.
That same year he was selected for the AL All‑Star Game, finished fifth in the Cy Young Award voting and received a handful of MVP considerations. His 45 saves remain a franchise benchmark for relievers.
Challenges and retirement
Arm injuries began to mount, and by 1994 Ward was diagnosed with tendonitis in his right arm. The setbacks forced him to retire from professional baseball, ending a career that included stints with both the Braves and the Blue Jays.
A sudden passing
Friends and former teammates recalled Ward's presence at the Toronto celebration of the 1992‑93 championships shortly before his death. He was found dead in his Las Vegas home, a loss that has prompted tributes from across the sport.
Duane Ward is survived by his brother Tom, who also played basketball at Farmington High School, and his mother, a lifelong Braves fan from Rome, Georgia. His legacy endures in the record books and in the memories of fans who witnessed his dominant relief work.