Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Prevost in Chicago, received a cherished memento from the world of baseball that ties his early fandom to the highest seat of the Catholic Church.
A Baseball Link Across Continents
The artifact, a baseball from the final out of Game 1 of the 2005 World Series, was presented to the pontiff by A.J. Pierzynski, the White Sox catcher who recorded the decisive strike.
Pierzynski’s gift is the latest in a series of sports‑related tokens that the Vatican has accepted since the former Chicago native assumed the papacy, including a White Sox jersey signed by Paul Konerko and a bat once used by Hall of Famer Nellie Fox.
The gesture also coincides with a broader outreach to Chicago’s athletic community; Vice President JD Vance recently gifted the pope a custom Bears jersey, and Bulls radio voice Chuck Swirsky presented a Bulls shirt bearing the papal name and number 14.
In response, the White Sox have announced a tribute during their August 11 matchup with the Cincinnati Reds, planning to distribute pope‑themed caps to fans and to spotlight the pontiff’s Chicago roots on the stadium’s scoreboard.
Beyond the souvenirs, the episode underscores a unique cultural bridge: the pope’s lifelong affection for the White Sox reflects a personal history that stretches from the South Side neighborhoods of his youth to the Vatican’s global stage.