Duane Ward

Roy Duane Ward (born May 28, 1964 in Park View, New Mexico) is a 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. Ward was drafted out of high school in 1982. Three brothers were also excellent athletes in their own right. Tommy, the oldest, was a baseball player; Gary, the next younger, was a standout wrestler; and Michael was a basketball player. Duane also starred in the Connie Mack World Series, a baseball tournament for 18-and-under players that has been hosted in Farmington since 1965.

Since 1988, Ward has lived in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Early career

A hard-throwing pitcher, Ward was drafted in the 1st round of the 1982 amateur draft by the Atlanta Braves. He made his major league debut on April 12, 1986, but after limited success was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays on July 6 for pitcher Doyle Alexander.

Setup man

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

Closer

After years of being in Tom Henke's shadow, Ward took over the closer's role in 1993. The Blue Jays again won the World Series, and Ward posted a league-best 45 saves, tying him with Jeff Montgomery of the Kansas City Royals.

Ward set the Toronto Blue Jays' single-season record for saves with 45 in 1993.

The rest of Ward's career was beset by injuries and he would never save another Major League game after 1993.^[1] After missing the entire 1994 season due to biceps tendinitis, he retired from the Toronto Blue Jays after pitching four games during the 1995 season. He finished with a 3.28 ERA and 121 saves.

See also

• List of Major League Baseball saves champions
• List of Major League Baseball all-time saves leaders

References

External links

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
• Major league pitching comes to Farmington: Hometown hero Ward, Eichhorn lead clinic (Farmington Daily Times article)