Police have launched new particulars concerning the sudden demise of former Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Duane Ward.
Ward was discovered deceased after Toronto police have been known as at 2:58 p.m. on Saturday, July 18, inquiring a few wellness verify, in line with the Toronto Star. He was 62.
On the time his physique was discovered, Ward was purported to be at Rogers Centre, residence of the Blue Jays, for the disclosing of a statue honoring the staff’s back-to-back World Sequence titles in 1992 and 1993.
Throughout the ceremony, Ward was resulting from journey in a truck along with his former bullpen mate Tom Henke. As an alternative, Henke, 68, rode within the car alone.
“I didn’t know on the time once I was within the truck that this had occurred,” Henke advised the Star. “However I knew Wardo was lacking and no person knew the place he was, and there was a search going out. I stated a couple of prayers within the truck.”
The Blue Jays introduced Ward’s demise on Sunday, July 19, saying he died of “pure causes.” An official explanation for demise has not been publicly launched.
Ward’s former Blue Jays teammate Todd Stottlemyre stated on social media that Ward “went to sleep and by no means awoke.”
The night earlier than his physique was discovered, Ward abruptly left a dinner with a bunch of his former Toronto teammates.
”[Ward] and I form of obtained by ourselves and visited for about half an hour [at the dinner],” Henke advised the Star. “I by no means would have guessed it. He seemed slightly drained, however that was it. It was a protracted journey for him [from his home in Henderson, Nevada]. He stated he was form of drained, he was going to go to mattress and get some relaxation for the following day. It was fairly a shock. He was a fantastic teammate.”
Brendan Lemieux, son of late NHL legend Claude Lemieux, spoke out after particulars from his father’s demise report have been revealed. “Right this moment, on my father Claude Lemieux’s birthday, a number of media retailers revealed articles stuffed with intimate particulars concerning the night time he handed — some correct, many full fabrications,” Brendan, 30, shared by way of Instagram on Thursday, July […]
Stottlemyre, 61, who was additionally on the dinner, posted a tribute to Ward by way of social media on Sunday.
“All of us got here collectively in Toronto for a particular celebration and tribute,” he wrote by way of X. “With my deepest remorse I’m making this submit. We had no concept our Friday night time dinner and the picture I posted was going to be the final time we have been going to see Duane Ward. From celebration to unhappiness in a second.”
Stottlemyre added, “With out your contribution there can be no BACK TO BACK. Life is brief and we’ll by no means know once we might be known as. Give somebody a hug in the present day and attain out to a beloved one and inform them how a lot you’re keen on them. Prayers exit to the Ward household. RIP Brother, till we see you once more.”
