Historic Baxter Springs
Baseball Field

now a soccer field

Just up the road from Commerce, is Baxter Springs.  This is the field where Mickey impressed Yankees scout Tom Greenwade who then signed him with the Yankees.  According to the book "The Mick" and to Barney Barnet, Jr., Mickey hit quite a few homers into the river.  The old light poles shown here are believed to be the ones that Barney Barnet, Sr. purchased for $3,500.  They are now on the ground as reminders of the field that once was.  From home plate to the centerfield fence was 400'.  A road ran behind the fence and behind that was the river which is also shown below.