- Duane Ward
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Duane Ward Pitcher Born: May 28, 1964
Park View, New MexicoBatted: Right Threw: Right MLB debut April 12, 1986 for the Atlanta Braves Last MLB appearance June 22, 1995 for the Toronto Blue Jays Career statistics Win–Loss record 32–37 Earned run average 3.28 Strikeouts 679 Saves 121 Teams Career highlights and awards - All-Star selection (1993)
- 2× World Series champion (1992, 1993)
- Toronto Blue Jays single-season save record (45) (1993)
Roy Duane Ward (born May 28, 1964 in Park View, New Mexico) was a Major League Baseball reliever during the late 1980s and early 1990s.
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.
Contents
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.
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
References
- ^ Toronto Blue Jays Calendar (Page-a-Day) March 14, 2011
External links
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference
- Major league pitching comes to Farmington: Hometown hero Ward, Eichhorn lead clinic (Farmington Daily Times article)
Preceded by
Dennis EckersleyAmerican League Saves Champion
1993
(with Jeff Montgomery)Succeeded by
Lee SmithAtlanta Braves first-round draft picks 1965: Dick Grant | 1966: Al Santorini | 1967: Andrew Finlay | 1968: Curtis Moore | 1969: Gene Holbert | 1970: Ron Broaddus | 1971: Taylor Duncan | 1972: Preston Hanna | 1973: Pat Rockett | 1974: Dale Murphy | 1975: Donald Young | 1976: Ken Smith | 1977: Tim Cole | 1978: Bob Horner | 1979: Brad Komminsk | 1980: Ken Dayley, Jim Acker | 1981: Jay Roberts | 1982: Duane Ward | 1983: No first round pick | 1984: Drew Denson | 1985: Tommy Greene | 1986: Kent Mercker | 1987: Derek Lilliquist | 1988: Steve Avery | 1989: Tyler Houston | 1990: Chipper Jones | 1991: Mike Kelly | 1992: Jamie Arnold | 1993: No first round pick | 1994: Jacob Shumate | 1995: Chad Hutchinson | 1996: A. J. Zapp, Jason Marquis | 1997: Troy Cameron | 1998: No first round pick | 1999: No first round pick | 2000: Adam Wainwright, Scott Thorman, Kelly Johnson, Aaron Herr | 2001: Macay McBride, Josh Burrus, Richard Lewis | 2002: Jeff Francoeur, Dan Meyer | 2003: Luis Atilano, Jarrod Saltalamacchia | 2004: No first round pick | 2005: Joey Devine, Beau Jones | 2006: Cody Johnson, Cory Rasmus, Steven Evarts | 2007: Jason Heyward, Jon Gilmore | 2008: Brett DeVall | 2009: Mike Minor | 2010: Matthew Lipka | 2011: Sean GilmartinToronto Blue Jays 1992 World Series Champions 2 Manuel Lee | 4 Alfredo Griffin | 9 John Olerud | 10 Pat Borders (World Series MVP) | 11 David Cone | 12 Roberto Alomar | 14 Derek Bell | 15 Pat Tabler | 17 Kelly Gruber | 22 Jimmy Key | 23 Candy Maldonado | 24 Turner Ward | 25 Devon White | 29 Joe Carter | 30 Todd Stottlemyre | 31 Duane Ward | 32 Dave Winfield | 33 Ed Sprague | 36 David Wells | 40 Mike Timlin | 47 Jack Morris | 48 Mark Eichhorn | 50 Tom Henke | 66 Juan Guzmán
Manager 43 Cito Gaston
Coaches: 3 Bob Bailor | 7 Rich Hacker | 8 John Sullivan | 18 Gene Tenace | 39 Larry Hisle | 42 Galen CiscoRegular season • American League Championship Series Toronto Blue Jays 1993 World Series Champions 1 Tony Fernández | 2 Rob Butler | 4 Alfredo Griffin | 9 John Olerud | 10 Pat Borders | 12 Roberto Alomar | 16 Turner Ward | 19 Paul Molitor (World Series MVP) | 21 Willie Cañate | 24 Rickey Henderson | 25 Devon White | 27 Randy Knorr | 28 Al Leiter | 29 Joe Carter | 30 Todd Stottlemyre | 31 Duane Ward | 33 Ed Sprague | 34 Dave Stewart | 40 Mike Timlin | 41 Pat Hentgen | 44 Scott Brow | 47 Jack Morris | 48 Mark Eichhorn | 49 Tony Castillo | 50 Danny Cox | 66 Juan Guzmán
Manager 43 Cito Gaston
Coaches: 3 Bob Bailor | 8 John Sullivan | 18 Gene Tenace | 39 Larry Hisle | 42 Galen Cisco | 45 Nick Leyva | 7 Rich HackerRegular season • American League Championship Series Categories:- American League All-Stars
- American League saves champions
- Atlanta Braves players
- Toronto Blue Jays players
- Major League Baseball pitchers
- Baseball players from New Mexico
- 1964 births
- Living people
- People from Farmington, New Mexico
- People from the Las Vegas metropolitan area
- Gulf Coast Braves players
- Anderson Braves players
- Durham Bulls players
- Greenville Braves players
- Richmond Braves players
- Syracuse Chiefs players
- Dunedin Blue Jays players
- Daytona Cubs players
- Orlando Cubs players
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