#260 Duane Ward

About the Front: There's a small part of me that thinks that the Blue Jays should've had multi-hued blue piping on their stirrups to match the uniform pants. A very small part.

About the Back: Five straight seasons with more than 100 relief innings...there's something you don't see in today's game.

Triple Play:

1. Toronto acquired Ward from the Braves in exchange for Doyle Alexander, who had himself been dealt 15 years earlier as part of a package for Frank Robinson.

2. Duane was instrumental in both of Toronto's World Series triumphs, allowing a total of two runs (one earned) in eight innings while picking up three wins and two saves. He struck out 13 batters and walked only one.

3. His 452 games pitched were a Jays' franchise record until surpassed by Jason Frasor in 2011.

11-Year-Old Kevin Says: Ward was so dominant in 1993 that I wouldn't have suspected that he'd never save another game going forward. Injuries cost him the entire 1994 season, and he retired after four rough appearances in 1995.

Bill James Said: "He finished 70 of the 71 games he came into, struck out 12.2 men per nine innings and just missed having twice as many strikeouts as hits allowed."

On This Date in 1993: August 13. In Thailand's worst hotel disaster, the Royal Plaza Hotel collapses and kills 130 people.