Jay Ward graduated from Highland High School in 1956. He played football, basketball, and baseball during his high school years. He attended McKendree College and played basketball until he signed his first professional contract with the New York Yankees. He made his professional baseball debut with the Kearney Yankees of the Nebraska League. On June 30 of that season he hit grand slams in consecutive innings. Jay moved from organization to organization over his minor league career before making his major league debut with the Minnesota Twins in 1963 and 1964. Jay played over 1800 games as an infielder and outfielder in the minors and hit over 20 home runs in five different seasons. He spent one season, 1966, in Nippon Pro Baseball in Japan with the Chunichi Dragons. Back in the USA in 1967, Jay had some of his best seasons as a third baseman in the Pacific Coast League. In 1969 he led the league with 35 doubles. Jay got another brief shot at the major leagues with the Cincinnati Reds in 1970. He retired after the 1971 season and managed one year with the Twins organization. Jay came back to baseball in 1983 as manager of the Bend Phillies in the Class A Northwest League. In 1986 he won the league championship as manager of the Vermont Reds. Overall, Jay managed 15 years in the minor leagues with more than 700 wins. He landed a job as a coach with the New York Yankees in 1987 under Lou Pinella. Jay returned to managing in the minors in 1988 and was hired as the Montreal Expo minor league hitting instructor in 1990. During the 1991 season he was promoted to the major leagues as the Expos hitting coach. He continued in this role through the 1992 season. Later, he served as hitting coordinator for both the Montreal Expos and the Atlanta Braves. In retirement, Jay continues to be involved with baseball as he operates a highly successful hitting school in Springfield, Missouri. Jay is also an avid hunter and fisherman, which he enjoys near his home in Montana.