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Pope Leo XIV receives World Series baseball from former White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski
By Jay Cohen, Associated Press at KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC)
· June 25, 2026
· 2 min read
Pope Leo XIV has received a special gift from former Chicago White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski.The pontiff has been given the baseball from the final out of Game 1 of the 2005 World Series. It was unclear when exactly the exchange occurred, but Pierzynski posted pictures on social media on Thursd...
Key takeaway The pontiff has been given the baseball from the final out of Game 1 of the 2005 World Series.
Why this matters in The Pearland
The gift of the 2005 World Series baseball from A.J. Pierzynski to Pope Leo XIV has a unique connection to the Houston area, given that the final out was made against the Houston team. This exchange is a reminder that the pope's interest in sports is not limited to his Chicago roots, but also extends to the teams he encountered during his time in the city, including those from neighboring cities like Houston. The fact that the pope attended the World Series opener 21 years ago, which featured a matchup between the White Sox and a Houston team, highlights the intersection of sports and faith in the region. As the White Sox plan to pay tribute to the pope at their upcoming game, locals may be interested in learning more about the pope's ties to the area and how his sports interests reflect the diverse fan base in the Houston area.
About this story
Original reporting by KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC) . The Pearland surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: June 25, 2026 ·
Source: KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC) ·
Reading time: 2 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? Pope Leo XIV has received a special gift from former Chicago White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski.The pontiff has been given the baseball from the final out of Game 1 of the 2005 World Series. It was unclear when exactly the exchange occurred, but Pierzynski posted pictures on social media on Thursd...
When was this published? This article was first published on June 25, 2026 by KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC) and curated for The Pearland readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Jay Cohen, Associated Press at KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC). To learn more about how The Pearland selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The Pearland, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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