Former Pitcher Makes Eerie Prediction Before Death

Nearly a month after sustaining head trauma in a motorcycle accident, former big league pitcher-turned-Christian talk show host Frank Pastore has died.

KKLA-FM, the Los Angeles radio station that has been the home of the Frank Pastore Show since 2004 made the announcement on its website Monday.

As many of you are aware, Frank Pastore was in a motorcycle accident Monday night, 11/19. Gina Pastore informed us that in the early afternoon of Monday, December 17, Frank passed away. We will update you with any additional information as soon as it is available. Please continue to pray for Gina and the family.

On the night of the accident, the popular show host made an eerie, perhaps even prophetic, comment when discussing life after death with a guest on his radio program.

"He often talked about this because he was a Christian philosopher," Gina Pastore told the Christian Post following the crash. "He mentioned on the air, he said, 'that if I were to be killed on the freeway tonight and my body parts are all over the freeway I'm not on the freeway because I'm my soul and I would be with the Lord.' He actually said that the night that it happened."

Just hours after making that comment, the 55-year-old Pastore was reportedly struck by a car while riding his Honda Shadow.

As a big leaguer, the righty compiled a 48-58 record and a solid 4.29 ERA.  He pitched in 220 career games over eight seasons...seven of which were with the Cincinnati Reds.

Former Reds Pitcher in Critical Condition

Last Monday, Frank Pastore was riding his Honda Shadow in the freeway carpool lane when he was struck by a fellow commuter. 

This, according to the Los Angeles Times:

California Highway Patrol officials said a woman driving a Hyundai Sonata was eastbound when she lost control of her car and drifted over to the carpool lane, where she struck Pastore.  Pastore, 55, was thrown from the motorcycle and suffered severe head trauma. He was airlifted to an area hospital.

 The former Cincinnati Reds pitcher has been in a coma ever since.

"Right now, he's still in critical condition and we're remaining hopeful for a good outcome. It's such a fresh injury that we're still not sure. It's a roller coaster," Pastore's wife Gina told the San Gabriel Valley Tribune. "He's a man of strong faith. He's prepared to go be with the Lord if that's what God desires."

What you might not know is that the former big leaguer has had quite the career since he left the Majors...and I don't mean his stint as the Big Texan eating champ.

Since 2004, Pastore has been the host of the aptly titled Frank Pastore Show on KKLA in Los Angeles.  It is referred to as the "largest Christian talk show in the United States".

And on the night of the accident, Pastore theoretically spoke about the possibility of being killed on the freeway.

"His listeners know that actually the last Monday night, the night of the accident, Frank was talking about the reality of the soul," Gina Pastore told the Christian Post. "He often talked about this because he was a Christian philosopher. He mentioned on the air, he said, 'that if I were to be killed on the freeway tonight and my body parts are all over the freeway I'm not on the freeway because I'm my soul and I would be with the Lord.' He actually said that the night that it happened."

Crazy.

If you've got a couple of minutes, listen to Pastore tell the story of a 1984 incident on the mound that changed his career and, more importantly, his perception on life.

Frank Pastore...Eating Machine

By now, anyone who knows me knows that my favorite holiday is July 4.

That said, it has absolutely nothing to do with fireworks, patriotism or Will Smith movies.  It has everything to do with hot dogs.

For the last two years, I've had the pleasure of talking with competitive eater Pat Bertoletti on the eve of the Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating contest. And this past week, he dropped a bombshell on me.

Former Cincinnati Reds reliever Frank Pastore is an eating machine.

You see, "World Famous" Big Texan Steak Ranch in Amarillo, Texas has a challenge and Pastore took them to task.  You can read up on the rules HERE or just know this...they want you to eat 72 ounces of steak.
But getting back to Pastore...this is what their website has to say about the hurler (of baseballs, not meat):

Frank Pastore, who was a professional pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds, ate the complete steak dinner in 9 and 1/2 minutes (May 3, 1987). Pastore actually has eaten the steak dinner seven times. On his first effort, in February 1976, he finished the steak in 21 minutes. He held that record for 21 years.

I had no idea.

So I hit the Googles and found a 2008 article where Pastore, currently a radio host detailed his exploits.

The first time I did it was in February 1976, on my way to my first Spring Training with the Cincinnati Reds, and I did it in 21 minutes. That fall, on my way home, I completed it in 19 minutes. The next spring, 17; on the way home, 15; the following spring, 13; then 11 on the way home in 1978.

My fastest time (and the world record for almost 21 years) was set in May 1987 in which I did it in 9½ minutes. I thought it would be my last time through town, since my career was coming to an end, and I was right. I haven’t been back to the most famous steak house in the world since then.

I’ve always been so proud of The Record. In many ways, I’m more known for The Steak than I am for my 8-year mediocre pitching career or my radio show in Los Angeles.

The current Big Texan champ? Bertoletti's rival Joey Chestnut.  "Joey Jaws" ate the entire meal in eight minutes and 52 seconds back in March 2008.

Can someone please pass the Tums?