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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 Tomball News
The exchange between Pope Leo XIV and A.J. Pierzynski has a unique connection to the Houston area, given the pope's attendance at the 2005 World Series opener between the White Sox and the Astros. As a fan of the White Sox, the pope witnessed the team's 5-3 victory over the Astros at U.S. Cellular Field, now known as Guaranteed Rate Field. This local tie is notable, especially since the Astros are a prominent part of the Houston sports scene, which includes Tomball . The pope's interest in sports, particularly his favorite team, may spark conversations among local sports fans and Catholics in the Tomball community. With the White Sox planning to pay tribute to the pope at an upcoming game, it will be interesting to see if any local residents or groups from Tomball attend the event or participate in similar tributes.
About this story
Original reporting by KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC) . Tomball News 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 Tomball News readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Jay Cohen, Associated Press at KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC). To learn more about how Tomball News selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from Tomball News, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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