Thurman Munson's Wife Moved by Austin Wells' Old-Timers' Day Tribute

At the Yankees' 78th annual Old-Timers Day on Saturday, catcher Austin Wells paid tribute to former Yankees catcher and captain Thurman Munson. Wells donned historical catching equipment and shaved his mustache to replicate Munson's appearance. Munson, who tragically passed away at 32 in a plane crash on August 2, 1979, was honored six days after the 47th anniversary of his death.

Munson's wife, Diana Munson, was present at the event. Her emotional response to Wells' tribute moved her to tears. Wells also escorted Diana Munson onto the field during pregame introductions. In an emotional testimony, Diana Munson said, "It was perhaps the most beautiful tribute I've ever seen in baseball, period. But for my husband, after 47 years, it just knocked me out."

She added, "It's been so long. I thought probably we're long past the time where they would pay that kind of tribute, so I think it caught everyone off-guard."

Wells thanked Diana Munson with a card and expressed his gratitude, stating that his one goal for Old-Timers Day was to give Austin Wells a hug for honoring her husband. Thurman Munson spent his entire 11-season career with the Yankees, where he was named AL Rookie of the Year in 1970 and AL Most Valuable Player in 1976. He was a seven-time AL All-Star and three-time AL Gold Glove winner. The Yankees retired his No. 15 in 1979, the same year as his untimely death.