hˈɑːbi wʌz lˈɑːntʃt ˌɔn fˈoːɹ dʒˈuːn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd fˈoːɹɾi tˈuː baɪ ðə bˈɛθlɛhəm stˈiːl kˌɔːɹpɚɹˈeɪʃən, sˌæn fɹænsˈɪskoʊ, kˌælɪfˈoːɹniə; spˈɑːnsɚd baɪ mˈɪsɪz. wˈɔltɚ dˈeɪvɪs, hˌuːz fˈoːɹ sˈʌnz wɜːɹ ˌɔn ˈæktɪv dˈuːɾi wɪððə nˈeɪvi; ænd kəmˈɪʃənd ˌɔn ˈeɪtiːn noʊvˈɛmbɚ nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd fˈoːɹɾi tˈuː, luːtˈɛnənt kəmˈændɚɹ ˈɜːnɪst blˈeɪk ɪn kəmˈænd.
Hobby was launched on 4 June 1942 by the Bethlehem Steel Corporation, San Francisco, California; sponsored by Mrs. Walter Davis, whose four sons were on active duty with the Navy; and commissioned on 18 November 1942, Lieutenant Commander Ernest Blake in command.