Pope Leo XIV is now the owner of a piece of baseball history, thanks to a special visit from former Chicago White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski.
Pierzynski handed the pope the baseball used for the final out of Game 1 of the 2005 World Series — a game that Leo himself attended. The exact date of the exchange wasn’t immediately clear, but Pierzynski shared photographs from the Vatican encounter on his Instagram account Thursday.
“7 year old me, at my First Communion, would have never thought that I would get to meet The Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV,” Pierzynski wrote. “I was honored to give him the last out ball from Game 1 of the 2005 World Series, the game he attended.”
Before becoming pope, Leo was known as Robert Prevost, or Father Bob, when he took in that World Series opener two decades ago. The White Sox won that game 5-3, with pitcher Bobby Jenks striking out Houston’s Adam Everett to end it — with Pierzynski crouching behind home plate. The White Sox went on to sweep the series in four games to claim the championship.
Leo grew up in Chicago and has been a White Sox fan his whole life. Rate Field even features a special graphic installation marking the section where he sat during Game 1.
As the first American pope in the history of the Catholic Church, Leo has collected quite a few sports-related gifts since his election last May. He received a pinstriped White Sox jersey numbered 14 with “Konerko” and “Pope Leo” on the back, signed by former first baseman Paul Konerko, who wore that number throughout his career. He also received a bat that once belonged to Hall of Famer Nellie Fox, who spent the majority of his career with the White Sox.
Shortly after his election, Vice President JD Vance presented Leo with a custom Chicago Bears jersey. In November, Bulls radio broadcaster Chuck Swirsky gave him a Chicago Bulls jersey bearing the number 14 and “Pope Leo” on the back.
The White Sox are also planning a special tribute to their famous fan on August 11 when they host Cincinnati, giving fans pope-themed hats shaped like a papal miter with the team’s sock logo displayed in the center.
