Frank Pastore, Eating Machine

by JD Arney on Mar 13, 2008 12:33 PM EDT in News Comment 60 comments

In the early `60s when Bob Lee first opened the Big Texan Steak Ranch the cowboys still came into town at the end of the week. One night a lanky cowboy came through the front door of the restaurant declaring he was so hungry he could "eat the whole darned cow."
Bob, always ready to have some fun, gave him a big grin and started cooking steaks. When the cowboy finally yelled, "calf rope," he had consumed 4 ½ pounds of meat. Bob declared from that day forward, the meal would be free to anyone who could eat it all in 1 hour.
[...]
About 8,000 have succeeded in completing the feat and joining the ranks of Big Texan champions. They come from all walks of life. Winners have included an 11-year-old boy and a 69-year-old grandmother. Former Cincinnati Reds Pitcher Frank Pastore did it in a record time of 9 ½ minutes. The unofficial record for the fastest time belongs to a Bengal Tiger. His meal was limited to the steak only and he dined in the front of the building. The technique was the simplest we've ever seen: sniff, lick, gulp! It took him less than 90 seconds.

I can't even begin to imagine how sick you would feel after downing four and a half pounds of steak in under ten minutes. Wow.

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Go Bengals!

by Brendanukkah on Mar 13, 2008 12:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Todd Coffey smells a challenge

by Brendanukkah on Mar 13, 2008 12:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

From who?

Is Dolly Parton from Texas?

I enjoy pooping.

by Pops Daniels on Mar 13, 2008 1:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Believe it or not...

I was watching a show about that place last night.

suggestions, anyone?

by BobbyO on Mar 13, 2008 12:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Me too

Nobody does Americana like the Travel Channel.

by ken on Mar 13, 2008 1:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I saw that show too

but they got his name wrong. They called him "Frank Pastorea."

by ctnyc on Mar 14, 2008 12:27 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think they're rerunning it right now

Steak Paradise
Sat, Mar 15, 12:00 PM Run Time: 60 min.
Genre: Travel
Popular steak eateries; Peter Luger's in New York; the Big Texan Steak Ranch in Amarillo.

All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?

by BubbaFan on Mar 15, 2008 12:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He was

probably as sick as I felt after many of his starts.

I enjoy pooping.

by Pops Daniels on Mar 13, 2008 12:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

But hell

at least one of his BB-Ref comps is Tomo Ohka. Now there's the colon clog and Ohka- quite fine references!

I enjoy pooping.

by Pops Daniels on Mar 13, 2008 1:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Did somebody say Colon Clog?

I wish Bartolo had stayed with the Angels... I always liked those

"Holy Crap" articles...

You can't have manslaughter without laughter

by crolfer on Mar 13, 2008 8:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

My best years were with the Reds

One of my better years:
1982 Reds
31 games
29 starts
0 Complete games
8 Big wins
13 losses
.381 era

Because I didn't keep my 'stats' it would take one of you young fellas to figure just how exceptional I really was a a Major league level Pitcher.

Anyway it wasn't no 9 and 1/2 minutes...I done it in 9 and 1/2 seconds... What's that Honey? Oh the BEEF eating contest - - Never mind.

Reds Great
Frankie Pastore

9 and 1/2 seconds of Pure Family Fun

by CowboyFrank on Mar 13, 2008 1:08 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Cool

I ate at the Big Texan a couple years ago. I was proud to find the info on Frank inside.

As you're driving through Oklahoma the billboards begin. Big Texan steak! 540 miles! Juicy porterhouse! 480 miles (on right)! Over and over again they tempt you. When you finally get to the exit there's no driving past. You want a big steak.

I didn't go for the 72 ouncer for what it's worth.

by Red Menace on Mar 13, 2008 1:08 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

How sick?

Less sick than playing behind this bunch on 6/23/82:

Milner-RF
Landestoy-3B
Barranca-2B
Cedeno-CF
Vail-LF
Driessen-1B
Oester-SS
Trevino-C

or this, on 7/24:

Lawless-2B
Milner-CF
Walker-LF
Driessen-1B
Bench-3B
Householder-RF
Oester-SS
Trevino-C

Or 8/18:
Lawless-2B
Walker-LF
Concepcion-SS
Biittner-1B
Cedeno-CF
Householder-RF
Krenchicki-3B
Trevino-C

I still hate that team.

by cggarb on Mar 13, 2008 1:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yech

so do I. Old double-i and Mike Vail. Man, that team sucked.

I enjoy pooping.

by Pops Daniels on Mar 13, 2008 1:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Reprise

of a comment I made some time ago (and mildly interesting factoid):

Larry Biittner's family name is actually "Buttner," with the umlaut over the "u" in the German style. But when his forebears came to this country, the non-German-knowing immigration agents thought it was two dotted "i's." And the rest is mediocre history.

by ctnyc on Mar 14, 2008 12:35 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I always liked Duane Walker

With a name like that he could have been a Country star.

Core dude - Dustbag's core is not the core that is the core.

by Madville on Mar 13, 2008 3:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Eddie Milner was scrappy

before scrappy was cool.

"I guess I picked a bad day to stop sniffing glue!"- Lloyd Bridges

by Lonesome George on Mar 13, 2008 10:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

What about me?

At least it wasn't Grady Little.

by Paul Householder on Mar 14, 2008 9:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

mmm...fat

Do you have to eat all the fat and gristle, like John Candy in The Great Outdoors?

Phone's ringing, Dude.

by rjdio on Mar 13, 2008 2:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Haha!

The old 96er!

He ate it!- No, he didn't finish it!

You can't fool me. There ain't no sanity clause!

by sukr on Mar 18, 2008 10:45 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Speaking of imagining how sick you would feel...

What if this (today's lineup from Fay) was the opening day lineup?

Corey Patterson CF
Juan Castro SS
Ken Griffey Jr. RF
Brandon Phillips 2 B
Adam Dunn LF
Edwin Encarnacion 3B
Joey Votto 1B
Paul Bako C
Chris Dickerson DH

Jeremy Affeldt P, followed by Mike Stanton, Jim Brower, Gary Majewski and Scott Sauerbeck.

Tanzen!

by Verka Serduchka on Mar 13, 2008 2:13 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

castrolicious!

Griffey will have more solo HR than Dunn this year.

2-0 count: one pitch, one zone

by rojosoto on Mar 13, 2008 2:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Except for Casto

This could be the opening day line-up.

Sorry, no DH at GABP.

Is anyone starting to get concerned about the catching situation? Ross is still non-evident.

Is it time to package Belisle and some other warm body for somebody else's younger and talented back-up catcher?
I'm looking at you, Texas Rangers.

"I guess I picked a bad day to stop sniffing glue!"- Lloyd Bridges

by Lonesome George on Mar 13, 2008 2:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Pitcher for a catcher

I think we need Belise more than we need a better catcher, no? Ross is still hurt. I think its going to take him a month longer than everyone else to get into the swing of things.

This situation reminds me of a scene in the movie "New Jack City"... (-Deion Sanders)

by satyanaas on Mar 13, 2008 2:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If the rotation at the start of the year

Harang
Arroyo
Cueto (go Johnny!)
Fogg
Volquez

Could not Mr. Matt be used to strengthen the team in another place? It looks like we may be down 2 (that's TWO) starters in A-Gon and Ross from Last Year.

Just axin'.

"I guess I picked a bad day to stop sniffing glue!"- Lloyd Bridges

by Lonesome George on Mar 13, 2008 5:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That would mean the Reds are an AL team...

And royally screwed...

And everyone knows Corey Patterson is going to be the day one starting pitcher... It's like a reverse Rick Ankiel... but it was undercover.

You can't have manslaughter without laughter

by crolfer on Mar 13, 2008 8:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Looks like Cordero has Dusty beat.

Dusty uses his ears to hear players. Cordero uses his eyes.

"He's very good with the young Latins," Baker said. "He knows what's going on. He listens through his eyes. You can tell."

by Geki on Mar 13, 2008 2:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

He needs

to breath through his eyes.

Everybody knows that.

Sheesh. Rookies.

"I guess I picked a bad day to stop sniffing glue!"- Lloyd Bridges

by Lonesome George on Mar 13, 2008 2:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Practice makes Perfect

From the stats page (http://www.bigtexan.com/72ozstats.htm)

"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."

by MirrorLakeJump on Mar 13, 2008 3:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Oh, you're one of those statheads

Can't you appreciate the sheer poetry of a human being wolfing four pounds of perfectly grilled steak into their slathering maw? Don't give me Frank Pastore's "ounces-per-minute" rate. Don't tell me that he was more likely to finish his steak in under 17 minutes when it was cooked medium rare as opposed to when it was cooked well-done.

I want to hear about his appetite! I want to hear about his desire to finish! And most of all, I want to hear about his scrapple!

by Brendanukkah on Mar 13, 2008 3:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sabermootrics?

by Brendanukkah on Mar 13, 2008 3:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Zing

Tanzen!

by Verka Serduchka on Mar 13, 2008 3:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sabermootrics

Those people need to get their head out of a menu and actual watch someone eat for once.

They probably live in their parent's kitchen. Losers.

Don't talk back to Darth Vader or he'll getcha!

by Slyde on Mar 13, 2008 3:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's the sound of the food..

Tanzen!

by Verka Serduchka on Mar 13, 2008 3:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I guess since it's beef

that the time isn't pork adjusted...

Bruce Bonser? Boone Bonser? Boot Bonser? BOOSE BONZER?

by Lakeman on Mar 13, 2008 4:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Pork is white.

White meat doesn't grill as well as dark meat.

by Fat Vegas Alan on Mar 13, 2008 5:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's racist!

At least it wasn't Grady Little.

by Paul Householder on Mar 14, 2008 10:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Geez

the only person I know who gobbles down more meat is that guy who got kicked off american idol last night.

Red Reporter- Because every Reds fan needs a place to overreact.

by jacob brumfield on Mar 13, 2008 3:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Zing

I kept thinking that he'd get done and one of the judges would say "You know dog it was pretty good, but I can't get past the whole gay stripper thing. Sorry dog."

Bruce Bonser? Boone Bonser? Boot Bonser? BOOSE BONZER?

by Lakeman on Mar 13, 2008 4:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I see...

...the Cards have signed Lohse to a one-year deal.

All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?

by BubbaFan on Mar 13, 2008 5:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Nice pickup, but he's no Billy Crystal

by ken on Mar 13, 2008 5:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Is this

a sign of desparation?

Are the Cards really that.....weak? I think that Jason LaRue is slated to back up Yadier Molina, too.

"I guess I picked a bad day to stop sniffing glue!"- Lloyd Bridges

by Lonesome George on Mar 13, 2008 6:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's what I thought...

...when they picked up Jeff Weaver.

All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?

by BubbaFan on Mar 13, 2008 6:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Glowing review from the Cardinals

"If it were a perfect world, we wouldn't have had to go down this path," Mozeliak said. "But it's not and we're going to need someone to pitch every fifth day.

2-0 count: one pitch, one zone

by rojosoto on Mar 14, 2008 8:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Billy Crystal

struck out to start the game.

Chad Moeller struck out to end it.

All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?

by BubbaFan on Mar 13, 2008 9:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe Moeller should try comedy?

I always thought his swing was kinda funny.

You can't have manslaughter without laughter

by crolfer on Mar 14, 2008 8:16 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nice job, Frank. <butt pat>

But we're gonna let Gookbong close this one out.

From Wikipedia:

Eating Records:

* Fastest time to consume one meal: 9.5 minutes, May 3, 1987, held by Frank Pastore, former pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds; this was also Pastore's seventh successful attempt at completing the challenge. (The "unofficial" record is held by a Bengal Tiger, who ate the steak in only 90 seconds.)

*Most meals in one hour: Brian Gookbong Lee from Pasadena, California, four complete 72 oz steaks; as a result, he was awarded a life-time pass to the Big Texan.

by Fat Vegas Alan on Mar 13, 2008 6:21 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Holy crap

How could anyone eat four of those things in an hour?! And was it just the steaks, or did he eat four shrimp cocktails, salads, baked potatoes, and rolls, too?

All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?

by BubbaFan on Mar 13, 2008 6:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs