Visiting Mickey Mantle’s Childhood Home: From Commerce to Cooperstown

For baseball fans and history buffs alike, a trip to northeastern Oklahoma would not be complete without paying tribute to the “Commerce Comet” Mickey Mantle. 

Growing up I was an avid baseball fan, so while driving through the area there was no way I was going to pass up a chance to visit Mickey Mantle’s Boyhood Home. We pulled up to The Mick’s old house in Commerce on a cool winter afternoon. We were the only car there. Immediately, it was clear just how humble the beginnings of one of baseball’s greatest legends came from.

Known as “The Commerce Comet,” Mantle rose from a small mining town to become a Hall of Fame outfielder for the New York Yankees, capturing seven World Series titles and three American League MVP awards. 

The Mickey Mantle Childhood Home

The modest white house where Mantle grew up still stands at 319 South Quincy Street. Unlike grand museum-style attractions, this home remains a simple yet powerful reminder of Mantle’s upbringing. The house is a small, wood-framed structure that reflects the working-class background of Mantle’s family. His father, Mutt Mantle, worked in the nearby lead and zinc mines, but he made sure baseball played a central role in young Mickey’s life.

In the yard, visitors can see remnants of where Mickey and his father would practice. Nearby there is a somewhat preserved barn where his father and grandfather would throw baseballs at him from both right and left —training that helped develop Mantle into one of the greatest switch hitters in history.  The home serves as a tribute to his early life, where his love for baseball was first ignited.

We spent about 15 minutes walking around the property and reading a few interpretive signs. The home was locked, but we were able to peer in a few windows.  

Mantle’s boyhood home is a pilgrimage for baseball fans. It’s a chance to appreciate where his journey began, from a dirt yard in Oklahoma to the bright lights of Yankee Stadium.

Commerce, Oklahoma, may be a small dot on the map, but for baseball lovers, it remains a must-visit destination—a place where a young boy with a bat and a dream became one of the greatest players in history.

Other Mantle Landmarks in Commerce

While in town, fans can visit Commerce High School, where Mantle first showcased his athletic abilities before signing with the Yankees at just 17 years old. Nearby, a larger-than-life statue of Mantle stands proudly in a local park, serving as a tribute to his incredible legacy.