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Frank Pastore, a former Major League Baseball pitcher who became one of the nation’s most popular Christian-radio hosts, died Monday from complications from injuries he suffered in a motorcycle accident a month ago. He was 55.
Just three hours prior to his Nov. 19 accident, Pastore spoke of the dangers associated with his penchant for motorcycles. Radio station KKLA-FM Los Angeles on Monday posted a short announcement of its host’s death as well as audio of what it was calling Pastore’s “prophetic sound bite” from the day of the accident.
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On that day, Pastore was discussing an episode of Through the Wormhole, a TV show on the Science Channel hosted by Morgan Freeman. The episode explored the possibility of life after death.
“Look, you guys know I ride a motorcycle, right?” Pastore asked his audience three hours before he collided with a car as he rode down the 210 Freeway near Los Angeles.
“So, at any moment, especially with the idiot people who cross the diamond lane into my lane, all right, without any blinkers – not that I’m angry about it – at any minute I could be spread all over the 210. But that’s [just] my body part, and that key distinction undergirds the entire Christian worldview.”
Hear his remarks here.
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Pastore was born in Aug. 21, 1957, in Alhambra, Calif., made his major league debut as a pitcher with the Cincinnati Reds on April 4, 1979. In a losing effort against the San Francisco Giants, Pastore pitched three scoreless innings that day. He stayed with the Reds until 1985 then played one season for the Minnesota Twins.
After baseball, Pastore studied business, philosophy, religion and politics at various universities and became a born-again Christian. He became host of The Frank Pastore Show on KKLA nine years ago and turned it into one of the largest Christian talk shows in the country.
On Nov. 19, Pastore was riding his Honda VTX 1800 in the carpool lane of the 210 freeway when he was struck by a Hyundai Sonata in the lane next to him. He was hospitalized with serious head injuries.
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At KKLA’s website Monday, a message read: “As many of you are aware, Frank Pastore was in a motorcycle accident Monday night, 11/19. [Wife] 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. Blessings to you, KKLA Management.”
Email: Paul.Bond@thr.com
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