Thurman Munson 2 (New batting pose) The relentless catcher of the 1970s Yankees, Munson was honored by the team on April 17, 1976 when he was named the first Yankees captain since Lou Gehrig. The 1970 A.L. Rookie of the Year was a seven-time All-Star and the A.L. MVP in 1976. The Yankees and their fans were devastated when Munson died in a small plane crash on August 2, 1979. The brilliance of his too-short career left a permanent impression in the hearts of baseball fans everywhere.