Nolan Ryan A Hit
As TDA Pitch Man

AUSTIN — Legendary major league baseball pitcher and Texas rancher Nolan Ryan is not only one of the new spokesmen for Texas agriculture, but according to the state's agriculture commissioner, he's also a secret weapon.

Ryan is one of several celebrities scheduled to appear in television advertisements on behalf of Texas agriculture.

"It was a hoot watching Nolan Ryan film it," says Texas Agriculture Commissioner Susan Combs.

The commercial starts with a field of bluebonnets and birds singing.

"There's this barn side and you hear this noise," says Combs. "You hear two impacts. The camera pulls in and there's Nolan Ryan throwing fruits and vegetables and apples at the barn. He stops and says, 'If it doesn't come from Texas, it just doesn't taste right.'"

That was the great part. The bad part was when he was supposed to throw these objects straight at the camera. There was a clear plastic sheet in front of the camera.

"Nolan Ryan, our great pitcher, takes this peach and shoots straight for the camera and misses and decks the photographer," Combs says. "The photographer falls flat on the ground, knocked out."

Combs says now they are telling people that Nolan Ryan is Texas agriculture's secret weapon.

"If you don't buy Texas, we're going to get Nolan after you," Combs jokes.