Duane Ward only played only 10 Games for the Braves in the 1986 season before he was traded to the Blue Jays straight up for Doyle Alexander. Ward was in the Minors for most of the rest of 1986 and 1987, but by 1988, he was a dependable middle-innings reliever, eventually settling into an eighth-inning role to set up Tom Henke.
Henke departed for Texas as a free agent, and Ward took over as the closer, going to his first All-Star Game, leading the league in Saves (45), and helping Toronto repeat as World Series Champions. Ward still had plenty of Save opportunities, and he closed 76 Games from 1988 to 1992, leading the AL in Games Pitched (81) in 1991 and helping Toronto win the World Series. He was also fifth in Cy Young voting.
Ward did not know it then, but that would be his end. He missed the entire 2014 Season due to biceps tendinitis, and he only played in four ineffective Games in 1995. Ward retired soon after, and he recorded 121 Sves for Toronto. The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame also added Ward to their ranks.
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