Roy Duane Ward, Toronto Blue Jays Champion Reliever And Canadian Baseball Hall Of Fame Honoree, Dies In Toronto At 62
The baseball community is remembering Roy Duane Ward, the former Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher who died in Toronto on July 18, 2026, at age 62 from natural causes.
Born on May 28, 1964, in Park View, New Mexico, Ward entered professional baseball as a first-round Atlanta Braves selection in the 1982 MLB Draft and joined Toronto in 1986.
Ward helped anchor a standout Blue Jays bullpen during the club’s 1992 and 1993 World Series championship seasons, working alongside Tom Henke in one of the franchise’s defining eras.
In 1993, Ward earned an MLB All-Star selection, led the American League with 45 saves, and set a Toronto franchise record.
Across 462 MLB appearances, Ward recorded 121 saves, 679 strikeouts, and a 3.28 earned run average.
The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame inducted Ward in 2020, honoring a career remembered for skill, poise, teamwork, and lasting impact on baseball in Canada.
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