Oklahoma City's minor league baseball team has rebranded as the OKC Comets, inspired by Yankees legend Mickey Mantle and the city's growth.

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Oklahoma City's minor league baseball team rebranded as the OKC Comets, drawing inspiration from New York Yankees legend Mickey Mantle and the city's growth.

"If you say Mickey Mantle, the Commerce Comet comes out. It's just part of his name," Cindy Pollard, Mantle's niece, said. "It wasn't something we'd just blurt out."

The family highlighted the deep connection between the legendary baseball player and the new team name.

"Always sending money to my mom. His mom, Lovell, lived with us, so anytime we needed anything, he was always there," Kerry Shuck, Mantle's nephew, said.

The rebranding event took place on Saturday, featuring drones, fireworks and more. The OKC Comets' name change honors Mantle, but it also reflects Oklahoma City's growth and achievements.

"We've had 15 Oklahomans who are closely tied to space exploration whether they were astronauts or very high up in NASA," Alex Freedman with the OKC Comets said. "It's also a nod to our strong aerospace industry in Oklahoma. We also want to celebrate the fact that we aren't just that oil and gas town anymore. We've got a whole lot more going in Oklahoma City."

Mickey Mantle, who grew up in the small town of Commerce in northeast Oklahoma, continues to be a source of pride for his family, now residing in Oklahoma City.

"He's one of those names that whenever I'm telling my 9-year-old, 'This is how hard you have to work,' it's Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and Uncle Mickey," Shuck said.

With the rebranding complete, the OKC Comets are set to play their first season under the new name in 2025, with gear and merchandise already available.