Former White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski presented Pope Leo XIV with the last-out ball from Game 1 of the 2005 World Series, which ended in a White Sox sweep over the Astros. Pierzynski said the moment felt impossible even for his childhood self and recalled t
ROME — Former White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski walked into a moment that still seems unreal, even to him.
While in Rome, Pierzynski presented Pope Leo XIV with the last-out ball from Game 1 of the 2005 World Series, the game in which the Chicago White Sox swept the Houston Astros. The last out came on a strikeout by Bobby Jenks.
Pierzynski. now a co-host of the daily baseball show “Foul Territory” and a Fox Sports analyst. caught that final out himself. On Instagram. he wrote: “7 year old me. at my First Communion. would have never thought that I would get to meet The Holy Father. Pope Leo XIV. ” adding. “I was honored to give him the last out ball from Game 1 of the 2005 World Series. the game he attended.”.
Pope Leo was known as Robert Prevost or Father Bob when he attended the opener 21 years ago. That first game ended 5-3 for the White Sox.
It’s a striking collision of worlds—baseball’s most vivid kind of memory in a place better known for relics and ritual. But for Pierzynski, the connection wasn’t abstract. The ball he kept is tied to a specific moment. a specific out. and a specific person who was there that day—long before Pierzynski ever imagined he’d be standing in Rome with the Pope at his side.
A.J. Pierzynski Pope Leo XIV 2005 World Series Chicago White Sox Houston Astros Bobby Jenks Rome
Wait so the Pope went to a World Series game? Wild.
I saw this and thought it was like… a merch thing? Like why would a Pope care about a baseball ball lol. But good for him I guess.
So the last-out ball from Game 1, but it says the Pope attended the opener 21 years ago, which would be 2004? Unless I’m totally off. Either way, Bobby Jenks strikeout sounds right but I don’t know why it needed to be Rome.
This is the kind of crossover I don’t get. Like people act like the Pope is just collecting trophies. Also “Pope Leo XIV” sounds fake, like they made that up. But if it’s real then congrats to Pierzynski for meeting him on top of baseball history or whatever.