Blue Jays Reliever Duane Ward Dies at 62 in Toronto During 1992-93 Title Tribute

Q: What warning signs preceded Duane Ward's sudden death just before he was to be honored?

The only reported warning signs were subtle: Ward appeared unusually tired, left dinner early, and then failed to show up for the ceremony where he was to be honored. Former teammate Tom Henke said Ward told him at a private dinner Friday night that he was “kind of tired” after traveling from his Las Vegas-area home to Toronto and planned to go to bed early. Henke said Ward “looked a little tired” and added that leaving early “wasn’t like Wardo,” saying later, “I didn’t like the way he looked, to be honest.” His absence the next day raised sharper concern. Ward had been expected at Saturday’s statue unveiling and was supposed to ride with Henke, but he never arrived. Former manager Cito Gaston noted that Ward was typically punctual, making the no-show unusual. When teammates could not reach him by phone or text, concern escalated. According to the additional reporting, police were called for a wellness check Saturday afternoon and found him dead. The Blue Jays later said he died of natural causes. No specific medical symptoms beyond fatigue and his uncharacteristic behavior were publicly disclosed.

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jul 20

Duane Ward died of natural causes in Toronto at 62, the Blue Jays said Sunday, while he was in the city for a statue unveiling honoring the club’s 1992 and 1993 World Series teams.
Toronto honored Ward before Sunday’s game against the White Sox with a video tribute and moment of silence after more than two dozen former players, coaches and executives gathered for the weekend ceremony.
Ward spent parts of 9 seasons with the Blue Jays after arriving in a 1986 trade from Atlanta, becoming a key late-inning arm on the back-to-back championship teams.
His peak came in 1993, when he posted 45 saves, a 2.13 ERA and a league-leading 70 games finished; across 462 career games, he recorded a 3.28 ERA and 679 strikeouts.