Oklahoma, “The Sooner State,” is once again making its claim as the pre-eminent hotbed for elite baseball talent in the United States. The pipeline from youth travel ball to the spotlight in MLB in this southwestern State of just over 4 million people has spanned generations.
The folklore surrounding some of the pathways to stardom that Paul and Lloyd Waner embarked on reads like a John Steinbeck narrative of the American Dream.
The brothers, who would both later become enshrined in Cooperstown, got their start on a 400-acre farm near the township of Harrah, formerly part of the Oklahoma Territory. Never mind their small physical stature, the Waner brothers developed strength, stamina, and flat-out toughness from working on the farm. They were taught the game by their Father, Ora, a skilled baseball player in his own right, who declined an offer to sign with the Chicago White Sox organization during the “dead ball” era.
The distinctive, muscular forearms can often identify an Oklahoman ballplayer of that era and those who live there today. They know how to transfer power through their hands and extend it to the barrel of a baseball bat. From Harrah, where the Waner brothers were from, a two-hour drive diagonally southwest (by today’s Interstate speed limits) will lead to the often-referenced Route 66, a Steinbeck and Jack Kerouac favorite landmark.
The town of Commerce, once a bustling mining hub, now maintains the well-kept Mickey Mantle field, named, of course, after the “Commerce Comet” and Yankee Legend himself. The field hosts a yearly tournament every April, showcasing some of the local high school JV and varsity teams.
Small towns where baseball has been played for more than a century are sporadically located throughout the Sooner State. Places like Binger, Oklahoma (pop. 672), where the stalwart catcher of the Big Red Machine, Johnny Bench, originally came from, can still congregate a small crowd for a local pick-up game of baseball or softball.
Signs, plaques, and statues commemorating Johnny Bench can be seen by those passing through the farming community, located about an hour north of Oklahoma City. Modestly sized cities like Del, birthplace of the MLB All-Star catcher JT Realmuto of the Phillies, and Stillwater, host city of the Oklahoma State University Cowboys baseball program (Coach Josh Holliday), are always bustling with baseball activity
It is on the campus of Oklahoma State, where Josh’s brother, Matt, also of Stillwater, might often be seen. Matt Holliday, who was on the most recent ballot towards possible Hall of Fame induction himself, might be tossing batting practice to his three sons. Jackson, the 1-1 pick in 2023, and Ethan, who is projected to go number one in the upcoming draft, are usually friendly enough to offer tips and a round in the cage to their younger brother Reed.
There could be some disruption and dispute over who might be selected as the number one pick on July 14th in Atlanta. One might be a Sooner pitcher named Kyson Witherspoon, who has proven to be one of the best arms to come out of the SEC.
More likely, though, Ethan’s spot at number one could be taken by another Oklahoma High School shortstop. Eli Willits, son of former MLB outfielder Reggie Willits, has all of the tools that project towards stardom. Whether it’s at number one or scattered through the top 10, these Sooner State superstars are sure to hear their names called out early in Atlanta.
Giving back to the community is a hallmark tradition among MLB stars from the state of Oklahoma. Climate-wise, the state isn’t as ideal for baseball as California, Florida, or Texas. Still, there is a proud heritage of impact MLB players who are committed to seeing representation from their State at the highest level. The baseball minds that permeate the farms and fields of Oklahoma have instilled wisdom and values of integrity and hard work, as they apply to both baseball and life. If an MLB scout were to look for a place where character values are so deeply ingrained among prospective players, then Oklahoma is where it’s at.
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