Holy Hat Giveaway: White Sox to Honor Chicago-Born Pope With Unique Promotion

The NBA may not have liked the Atlanta Hawks having a theme night honoring a local strip club, but who is going to argue over a night that honors the pope?The Chicago White Sox are celebrating their most famous fan, Pope Leo XIV, by offering White Sox-themed pope hats to fans who purchase tickets for their August 11 game against the Cincinnati Reds.The black and green hats, shaped like the pope’s miter, will be sent to fans who purchase tickets in one of five sections of Rate Field.Pope Leo, formerly known as Robert Francis Prevost, was born in Chicago and grew up in south suburban Dolton. His brother John Prevost made it clear early on that Pope Leo is a White Sox supporter and not a Cubs fan as many initially speculated. The Prevost brothers frequently attended White Sox games when they were young.“From Sox Dolton to Sox Park wasn’t that big of a deal, and of course we were both altar boys, so that was one of the rewards that we got was to go to a Sox game,” Mr. Prevost said.Pope Leo was in the stands for Game 1 of the 2005 World Series and reportedly sat in Section 140, Row 19, Seat 2 as the White Sox won 5-3 on the way to a sweep of the Houston Astros and their first world championship since 1917. The White Sox have commemorated the occasion by painting a mural of the pope on a wall at the entrance to the section alongside a framed White Sox No. 14 jersey with Pope Leo stitched across the back.“The pope absolutely has an open invite to come back, to come sit in Section 140, to throw out the first pitch,” the White Sox senior vice president, Brooks Boyer, said. “Maybe we’ll let him get an at-bat.”The pope has been open about his fandom, wearing a White Sox cap at the Vatican last summer. The hat was sent to him by White Sox legend Paul Konerko, who played in the 2005 World Series. The former first baseman sent the cap in return for an autographed White Sox jersey the pope sent to him bearing both “Konerko” and “Pope Leo” above the No. 14.“It’s kind of surreal,” Mr. Konerko said at the time. “I’m sure my mom will ask for dibs on it.”The scheduled Pope Night figures to get the full support of Major League Baseball, unlike “Magic City Monday” — a theme night the Atlanta Hawks had planned in March to celebrate Magic City, a famed Atlanta strip club known for its scantily clad performers and lemon chicken wings.Despite a rush of ticket sales, the NBA stepped in and canceled “Magic City Monday” with the NBA commissioner, Adam Silver, saying it was “the right decision for the broader NBA community.”Scott Olson/Getty ImagesPope Leo, apparently, is also a hoops fan. On Wednesday he welcomed the Harlem Globetrotters to St. Peter’s Square and was photographed attempting to spin an autographed red, white and blue basketball on one finger.The pontiff also graciously accepted a customized Harlem Globetrotters jersey inscribed with “Pope Leo XIV.”Don’t expect Pope Leo to attend his special night in Chicago. Reports are he has canceled a planned visit later this year and is not expected to return to America amid the U.S.-Israel conflict.

Holy Hat Giveaway: White Sox to Honor Chicago-Born Pope With Unique Promotion

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