Aaron Lee Ward (August 28, 1896 – January 30, 1961) was an American infielder for the New York Yankees (1917–1926), Chicago White Sox (1927), and Cleveland Indians (1928).

Ward also was on the roster for the 1926 World Series, but did not play in a game for the team, having become a bench player in favor of Tony Lazzeri and Mark Koenig.

When he arrived in Little Rock to report for Spring Training, he was told that the Charleston Sea Gulls of the South Atlantic League acquired his contract.

Hahn of the United States Navy's aviation division visited the Polo Grounds to discuss interest in joining the branch of military with players of the Yankees and Cleveland Indians.

[8] Due to low playing time from Miller Huggins, Ward left the team and reported to Camp Pike in North Little Rock, Arkansas for training, but was discharged from the military by the end of November 1918 along with Pipp.

With the beginning of Spring Training in Jacksonville, Florida nearing, Huggins had to deal with concerns that Frank Baker, Johnny Jones and Del Pratt would not be on the 1919 team.

Ward left South Carolina for New York City to have the leg looked at and was hopeful that his infielder would be able to play games between the two teams at Ebbets Field.

[12] Before reporting to Spring Training in 1921, Ward went into a holdout until the Yankees raised his pay, returning his 1921 contract unsigned to the club.

Ward's lack of presence caused the Yankees to struggle defensively, and sportswriters felt this return would amend things.

[28] However, rushing back to the majors before he was ready caused his numbers to struggle, along with the team, as they missed out on a fourth consecutive American League pennant.

Despite the lost playing time in Spring Training, Ward remained confident that Huggins would give him a second chance to earn his place over the young rookies.

Miller Huggins asked Ed Barrow to acquire outfielders Tom Gulley and Bill Barrett from the White Sox in return for Ward, along with a young catcher.

[31] Reports broke on May 6 that Huggins and current White Sox manager, Eddie Collins, had a handshake deal for a trade with Ward and Gulley changing teams.

[35] Ray Schalk, the new manager of the White Sox for the 1927 season wanted a new infielder to replace Eddie Collins and one of his offers was to acquire Ward form the Yankees or Frank O'Rourke from the TIgers.

[36] The Yankees traded Ward to the Chicago White Sox on January 13, 1927 in a straight, no cash deal for catcher Johnny Grabowski and infielder Ray Morehart.

[37] After spending the 1927 season with the White Sox, the Cleveland Indians claimed Ward off waivers on March 4, 1928 prior to Spring Training in Shreveport, Louisiana.

Ward, now a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, bought the team for $3,000 with a $750 forfeiture fee to ensure payment of players in October 1945.

[44] Now the manager and owner of the New Iberia Cardinals, Ward introduced a resolution that teams in the league would have 18 players on the roster for the first 20 days of the season rather than the standard 15.

[48] Ward's father, Thomas, was a superintendent for a boys industrial school for children in the Fort Smith, Arkansas area, a local politician and a member of the Ku Klux Klan.

Gene Ward helped his father operate the New Iberia Cardinals, doing various roles, including concessions and front office work.

He would spend the 1947 season working with the Birmingham Barons of the Southern Association as a traveling secretary, recommended by League President Charlie Hurth while the team was in New Orleans.

[52] After dealing with a long illness, Ward died at the United States Department of Veterans Affairs hospital in New Orleans on January 30, 1961.

[54] In the Tom Cruise movie Jack Reacher, the title character uses the alias "Aaron Ward" when investigating at an Ohio gun range.