A former teammate of late Major League Baseball pitcher Duane Ward revealed tragic alleged details about his sudden death.
“Went to sleep and never woke up,” Todd Stottlemyre wrote via X on Sunday, July 19, when asked what happened to Ward.
The Toronto Blue Jays announced Ward’s death on Sunday, which happened while he and a group of former teammates, including Stottlemyre, 61, were in Toronto for the unveiling of a statue to honor their back-to-back World Series wins in 1992 and 1993.
The team said Ward died of natural causes, but did not elaborate any further. He was 62.
“We all came together in Toronto for a special celebration and tribute,” Stottlemyre shared via X on Sunday. “With my deepest regret I am making this post. We had no idea our Friday night dinner and the photo I posted was going to be the last time we were going to see Duane Ward. From celebration to sadness in a moment.”
He added, “Without your contribution there would be no BACK TO BACK. Life is short and we will never know when we will be called. Give someone a hug today and reach out to a loved one and tell them how much you love them. Prayers go out to the Ward family. RIP Brother, until we see you again.”
Stottlemyre shared a photo from the dinner on Friday night, in which Ward could be seen smiling.
Former Blue Jays relief pitcher Tom Henke, who was also in attendance at the dinner, said Ward left the festivities abruptly.
“That wasn’t like Wardo to leave early,” Henke, 68, told the Toronto Sun on Sunday. “I asked him, ‘Are you feeling alright?’ I didn’t like the way he looked, to be honest.”
When the team was scheduled to head to Rogers Centre for the statue unveiling on Saturday, Ward was missing.
“I didn’t know where he was,” Henke said.
Former Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston “thought something was wrong when he was late,” he told the Sun.
“Wardo was one of those guys who was never late,” Gaston, 82, said. “He was always on time.”
Henke said the circumstances of Ward’s death had left him “shocked.”
“How can you not be?” he added. “I had supper with Wardo when he came in. We got to visit. I’m thinking now, I’m so glad I got to do that. I’m glad I got one more time with him.”
The Blue Jays held a moment of silence for Ward before their game against the Chicago White Sox on Sunday.
“Duane will be deeply missed by our fans, and we extend our heartfelt condolences to his family,” the team said in a statement. “Duane will always be a cherished part of the Blue Jays family, and we will be forever grateful for his contributions to our organization and to baseball in Canada.”
