COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. (July 25, 2015) Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) Ray Mabus delivers remarks during the National Baseball Hall of Fame Induction Weekend. During his speech Mabus announced the name of the future Freedom-class littoral combat ship (LCS 23) as USS Cooperstown. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Armando Gonzales/Released)
Well, seeing as most large ships in the 19th and 20th century fielded baseball or softball teams and the National Baseball Hall of Fame has 64 service members– many from the Navy in its annuals, the move to name LCS 23 as USS Cooperstown, announced last week, makes sense.
It will be the first ship in naval service named after historic Cooperstown, New York, which dates back to 1785 and is the county seat of Otsego County. And of course, it is the hometown of Maj. Gen Abner Doubleday (USMA 1842), Civil War officer and the grudgingly accepted inventor of America’s pastime.
Of note, in World War II, the United States liberty ship SS Abner Doubleday (Maritime Commission hull number 598) was named in his honor.
