Texas Stranger

Previously:

Nolan Ryan: The Comic Book  - -  Nolan's Beef at Dairy Queen

It was the early 90s and the corporate synergy stars aligned when Sports Illustrated, Kellogg's and DC Comics decided to mash themselves together into a chunky paste they called "Tony's Sports Comics."  The concept involved the legendary Frosted Flakes mascot teaming up with sports stars to encourage kids to get active and burn off the calories they racked up from, say...I don't know...various sugar frosted cereals?

I've seen other examples with Jackie Joyner-Kersee and Ozzie Smith but, of course, the one I'm most interested in features the great Nolan Ryan.  He played for both the Astros and the Rangers and is one of the top Texas sports icons of all time.

Our story begins in Cooperstown with Nolan and Tony visiting the Baseball Hall of Fame.  They notice a weirdo talking to the Babe Ruth statue and decide to intervene.  Young Paul wants to make it to the big leagues some day but he's weak in the hitting department.  Nolan tells him about some great former players that also couldn't hit worth a darn but it's hardly a comfort and Paul bolts.

Swing and a miss for the would-be mentor.  But Tony is right there for his bro and he's raring to go track down that kid and bug encourage him some more about baseball.  It's the kind of well meaning enthusiasm that only a sugar-buzzed cartoon tiger could have.  In fact, he's so hyped up he feels the need to go through some of the highlights of Nolan's career.

But enough grandstanding!  It's time to track down that kid whose name I think is Paul.  Let's face it, between the All-Star pitcher and the cereal mascot, he was kind of forgettable. Once they eventually catch up with him they suggest that maybe hitting just isn't his thing...but what about pitching?

Now that these two have totally inserted themselves in this kid's life, it was time to start the hard work.  The comic seems to genuinely try to include actual exercise/training information, or at least I think it does.  But since I don't know anything about training to be a pitcher I couldn't tell you if anything is actually accurate.  But there's something about learning a desirable skill form a freebie promotional comic book that seems very natural to me.  That being said, you'll never guess what training for the big leagues involves starting your day with...

Start the training montage!  If you like stories about weight training, stretching, fastball grips and form on the mound then this is the story for you!  Tony and Nolan (mainly Nolan) go over the fundamentals with Paul and they practice, practice, practice!  Or they just tell him to practice and then go back to their respective ranches.  I know Nolan has a ranch and I assume Tony has one too...filled with delicious sugar frosted antelopes and gazelles (with some sliced bananas to keep it healthy)!

Game time!  Later at a impromptu playground ball game, one of the kids gets called home for dinner (perhaps a cross-over story followed up in a Kraft Cheesasaurus Rex comic?) so Paul gets his big shot at the mound.  And, wouldn't you know it, Nolan & Tony's advice pays off!  Paul struck out the batter and I learned the term "whiffed."  But that's not all...

Looks like Paul made it all the way to State!  And all it took was some personal coaching from one of the best baseball players of all time, encouragement from a professional cereal legend, and (reading between the lines here) bowl after bowl of Frosted Flakes!  Sounds like a winning combination to me!

Nolan Ryan: The Comic Book

Previously - Tom Landry: The Comic Book

The comic book medium has never been shy about branching out from superheroes to other genres.  That frequently includes biographies and as we saw with the Tom Landry comic, Texas sports heroes tend to have interesting lives.  So with that, we take a look at the Personality Comics issue from 1991 that chronicled the life of baseball legend Nolan Ryan.

As biographies tend to do, this one starts with Ryan's birth in Refugio, TX and his childhood in Alvin, TX as well as his time as a student athlete playing basketball and his love of baseball.  As a young man his talent was clear and the book covers his recruitment by the Met's farm team:

I couldn't tell you why that scout looks so sinister.  Maybe because he's from New York?  Like all ball players, Ryan had to pay his dues in the minor leagues.  The comic chronicles his struggles working his way up to get to the Mets.

The struggle was only beginning once he made it to the majors.  He had to work through injuries to survive and attempt to thrive in the big leagues.  But the book also features personal highlights during the time.

Once he got to California his career really started to thrive.  Batters started to fear facing him on the mound and he got his famous nickname:

The no hitters started and Ryan's reputation as an incredible talent was solidified.  It was time for his triumphant return to the Lone Star State with a position with the Houston Astros (which apparently came with large, cartoonish bags of cash!).

Soon came his 3,000th strikeout and then his 4,000th strikeout.  Records were breaking and stats were racking up.  Nolan's next move was closer to home as he joined the Texas Rangers, which he apparently celebrated by standing atop a mountain and posing:

A quick mention is made of the Nolan Ryan Foundation Museum in Alvin but since the comic was published in the early 90's it was unable to include Ryan's time as the Ranger's CEO or as a beef pitchman.  Let's hope someone picks up where the now defunct comics company left off and we get a sequel!

Top 5 Things For Sale at Texas Treasures

Previously: Top 5 Items for Sale at the Alamo Gift Shop  

I recently found myself in the unusual (for me) position of having to waste time in a mall.  While in the Galleria in Dallas, surrounded by clothing stores and pretzel/cookie/yogurt places, I stumbled across the only store that could hold my attention:

I'm not sure if other states have these kind of stores but most Texas malls seem to have the obligatory "Texas Store" packed with "Texas Stuff."  So, for the sake of the blog, let's head inside and countdown the top five things they have for sale!

5.  Texas Lip Balm

Looks like they haven't forgotten about you, West Texas!  If that hot weather and dry air is making you feel a little chapped then why not keep some Texas Lip Balm in your pocket...or holster.  It works waaaay better than the New Hampshire stuff.

4.  Lone Star Pasta

Need a side dish for all that barbecue?  Then why not whip up some macaroni and cheese with some Lone Star Pasta?  Shapes seem to include the state of Texas, cowboy boots and Lone Stars.  In Texas, mac & cheese counts as a vegetable.

3.  "Come and Take It" Cuff Links

It wouldn't be a Texas themed gift shop without a wide variety of "Come and Take It" accoutrements.  This time we get cuff links...for the well dressed AND well armed gentleman.  These also have the added feature of being difficult to photograph while trying to look casual in a store where you're not buying anything. 

2.  Texas Postcard With Bluebonnet Seeds

If you've ever wanted to send a little bit of Texas to your peeps in other parts of the world then now there is a convenient way to do just that.  These bluebonnet seed packs are in postcard form so just a few stamps are all you need.  Just let your friends know their not supposed to pick them or step on them.  And that they are required to take pictures of their kids surrounded by them once a year.

1.  Texas Baseballs

What's more Texas than baseball?  Well, football I guess.  But they didn't have any of those so check these out. I can't imagine anything better than throwing on your favorite Nolan Ryan jersey and tossing one of these around.  Extra points for the vintage postcard motif!

So there are my picks for a Texas Treasures shopping list.  Feel free to pick up some of the many novelty hot sauces and barbecue sauces while you're there too!