Duane Ward

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Duane Ward
Ward with the Atlanta Braves c. 1986
Pitcher
Born: (1964-05-28) May 28, 1964 (age 60) Park View, New Mexico, U.S.
Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 12, 1986, for the Atlanta Braves
Last MLB appearance
June 22, 1995, for the Toronto Blue Jays
MLB statistics
Win–loss record	32–37
Earned run average	3.28
Strikeouts	679
Saves	121
Stats at Baseball Reference
Teams
Atlanta Braves (1986) Toronto Blue Jays (1986–1995)
Career highlights and awards
All-Star (1993) 2× World Series champion (1992, 1993) AL saves leader (1993)
Member of the Canadian
Baseball Hall of Fame
Induction	2020

Roy Duane Ward (born May 28, 1964) is an American former Major League Baseball relief pitcher who played with the Atlanta Braves and Toronto Blue Jays.

Ward went to school and made his early athletic mark in Farmington, New Mexico, a small oil and gas city, and one known for its amateur baseball programs. Ward thrived in the American Amateur Baseball Congress-sponsored baseball leagues and graduated from Farmington High School, home of the Scorpions. He was drafted out of high school in 1982. Ward also starred in the

Since 1988, Ward has lived in

A hard-throwing

Ward became one of the Jays' most dependable middle and late inning relievers in 1988, and remained in the role through the 1992 season, when the Blue Jays won their first World Series. His pitching repertoire featured a lively, mid-90s fastball and a hard slider.

After years of being in Tom Henke's shadow, Ward took over the closer's role in 1993. In the regular season, Ward set Toronto's single-season team record for saves with 45. He was tied with Jeff Montgomery of the Kansas City Royals for most saves in the American League. Ward was the closing pitcher for the American League in its 9–3 victory at the 1993 Major League Baseball All-Star Game. In helping the Blue Jays repeat as World Series Champions in 1993 Ward reached the peak of his career and, unexpectedly, the last significant duty of his career.

In the 1993 World Series, Ward earned two saves over Philadelphia, in Game 1 (8–5 save, in Toronto) and in the wild Toronto 15–14 victory in Game 4 in Philadelphia, when Ward got the last four outs after Toronto scored the final six runs of the game. Ward was the winning pitcher for the decisive Game 6 in which Joe Carter hit a walk-off home run after Ward pitched in relief.

The rest of Ward's career was beset by injuries and he would never save another Major League game after 1993.

Since 2014, Ward has been featured on the Blue Jays' radio broadcasts for Sportsnet 590 The Fan. He occasionally fills in for regular colour commentator Joe Siddall.

• List of Major League Baseball annual saves leaders

• Career statistics from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors)