USS Cooperstown Commissioned in New York City
NEW YORK – The U.S. Navy commissioned its newest Freedom-variant littoral combat ship, USS Cooperstown (LCS 23) May 6, 2023, in New York City.
USS Cooperstown is the first naval ship named after Cooperstown, New York and honors the 70 Hall of Famers who served the United States during wartime in a range of conflicts spanning the Civil War, World War I, World War II, and the Korean War.
“This [is a] quote from Chief Petty Officer and Hall of Fame pitcher, Bob Feller; he was known for being succinct and direct,” said Jane Forbes Clark, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum and the ship's Honorary Sponsor. “‘Baseball in the Navy was always much more fun than baseball in the major leagues.’”
Hall of Fame player and manager Joe Torre was the ceremony's main speaker and highlighted the ship’s ties with the namesake service members.
“As we commission the USS Cooperstown today, I’m thinking about my family and some of my dear friends,” Torre said, referencing his brother Rocco, who served in the military. “There are so many others, like Phil Rizzuto, Larry Doby, Buck O’Neil, Chief Petty Officer Bob Feller – my hope is that when everyone looks at the USS Cooperstown, they think about the great ballplayers who represented something much bigger. American courage, sacrifice and togetherness.”
Hall of Famer Johnny Bench presented the long glass during the ceremony. The crew was host for a weeklong series of events celebrating the ship, its namesake village, and the community it honors.
"I am pleased to be here in my hometown of New York City to commission the Navy’s newest littoral combat ship, USS Cooperstown,” said Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro. "LCS 23 honors the baseball greats, who in service of our Nation, sacrificed their baseball careers for us. I have full confidence that the officers and crew of this great ship will continue to honor their legacy."
Guest speakers for the event also included Vice President and General Manager of Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems, Integrated Warfare Systems and Sensors, Mr. Chauncey McIntosh; Chairman of the Board of Directors, National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum and Honorary Sponsor, Ms. Jane Forbes Clark; and Chief of Navy Reserve, Vice Adm. John Mustin.
The Ship's Sponsor Ms. Alba Tull, gave the first order to “man our ship and bring her to life.”
“Cooperstown has a long-standing tradition of excellence and dedication to preserving the history and legacy of baseball, and the USS Cooperstown is a fitting tribute to that tradition,” said Tull. “The ship represents the best of America, our values, our commitment to defending our Nation and the interests of our country.”
Built by the Lockheed Martin and Fincantieri Marinette Marine in Marinette, Wisconsin. Cooperstown was launched Jan. 19, 2019, christened on Feb 29, 2020, completed acceptance trials Dec. 14, 2020, and was delivered to the U.S. Navy Sep. 20, 2022.
"The USS Cooperstown's commissioning is a proud moment for us all, made possible by the tireless efforts of our dedicated crew,” said Cooperstown’s Commanding Officer, Cmdr. Daxton Moore. “They have demonstrated remarkable teamwork and a relentless commitment to excellence, working hard to ensure that this ship is ready. We are honored to carry the name Cooperstown into the fleet.”
LCS are fast, agile, mission-focused platforms designed to operate in near-shore environments, winning against 21st-century coastal threats.
Cooperstown will sail to its homeport of Mayport, Fla.
