More than 38,000 spectators filled Guaranteed Rate Field on a warm August evening, drawn by a theme that combined the pontiff’s personal history with America’s pastime. Richard King, a lifelong Sox fan from Chicago’s South Side, said the open display of Catholicism added a new layer of excitement to the event.
Dominican Sister Mary Jo Sobieck, a Springfield native, took the mound to throw the ceremonial first pitch, while Father Tom Hurley guided a crowd‑wide "sign of peace" that rippled through the stands, turning the ritual into a shared moment of reflection.
A Papal Connection to Chicago
The White Sox had broadened a fan giveaway from 2,500 to the stadium’s full capacity, a move that sold out quickly and marked the first time the promotion reached 40,000 attendees. Chicago White Sox Charities marked the occasion by presenting $14,000 to the Augustinians, the religious order to which Pope Leo belongs.
Although the Cincinnati Reds edged a 5‑4 victory in the tenth inning, the White Sox maintained their lead in the American League Central, underscoring the game’s competitive edge while still celebrating the unique papal atmosphere.
The celebration also paid tribute to Pope Leo’s 2005 World Series experience, with a newly installed mural and markers throughout the ballpark recalling that historic moment, linking past and present in a single narrative.
A shareholder noted the pontiff’s expressed interest in throwing a future first pitch, pending scheduling, while a Thanksgiving Mass at Rate Field, celebrated a month after his election, was presided over by Chicago Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, further cementing the city’s deep ties to the new pope.