Play Ball! USS Cooperstown (LCS 23) Commisioned

[WT Door]

The USS Cooperstown (LCS 23) was commissioned on Saturday. It was not "christened" as the headliner reads in the link.

One of my favorites in this group is Capt Ted Williams, a Marine Pilot. He was also the last man in major league baseball to have a batting average over .400. Some of you may recognize other names like Yogi Berra, Joe DiMaggio, Jackie Robinson and Willie Mays. They also served honorably.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/ar...hich-honors-hall-of-fame-veterans/ar-AA1aPNl1

 

[Small Team Bacsi]

Jack Lummus - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Played NFL football and ran track in college. Played minor league baseball. Was awarded the MoH for his actions on IWO.

Most significant sports stars played sports during their WW2 time.

The US military had some of the best sports teams, football, baseball, boxing, in the world in 1943.

 

[UHBlackhawk]

“A few years ago….”
My brother was in charge of coordinating the Navy fly over for game 1 of the World Series in 1999, Yankees vs the Braves in Atlanta,
He was able to get me nose bleed tickets, but it was the Works Series. Who was I to complain?
After the first inning he took off, then returned after the 2nd and motioned for me to follow him.
He gave me a quick brief. “Don’t talk unless spoken to, and don’t ask for autographs.” I was befuddled, but agreed.
He then led me past security and took me to the MLB VIP lounge. Name a great in baseball alive at the time and he was there. But the center of it all was Yogi Berra. You could tell everyone wanted to be near him. But he was oblivious and was obviously happiest talking to the Navy pilots who did the fly over, talking about his Navy service and yes… giving out his Berra’isms. I wish I had a pen and paper to write them down.
Someone came up to me and offered me his seats as he’d been told mine were nose bleaders. I gladly accepted.
My 8 month pregnant baseball fan wife who couldn’t attend was incensed that some guy named Mike Schmidt who played for the Reds or Phillies (I wasn’t sure who) gave me his tickets and I had no idea who he was. Should I know him?