In his first professional season with the Kearney Yankees of the Nebraska State League, Ward batted .331 with seven home runs and earned All-League honors.

At the 1961 winter meetings, he was dealt to the Los Angeles Dodgers with Stan Johnson and Bobby Prescott for Bill Lajoie and Gordie Windhorn.

A spring training injury to starting third baseman Rich Rollins opened the door for Ward to join the Twins early in the 1963 season.

[3] His first major league hit was a two-run double off Orlando Pena to lead the Twins to a 2–0 victory over Kansas City.

After a brief stint with the Nippon Professional Baseball league's Chunichi Dragons in 1966, and a season in the Cleveland Indians' farm system, Ward returned to the majors in 1970 as a member of the Cincinnati Reds.

He managed the team to a 70–56 record, but decided to leave baseball for a while, and moved back to his home state, Missouri.

Following the season, Lou Piniella brought him back to the majors and the organization he started with, naming him hitting coach for the New York Yankees.