White Sox Distribute 40,000 Pope Hats in Sellout Event
The Chicago White Sox held a sold-out "Pope Hat" giveaway event on Tuesday, distributing over 40,000 hats to celebrate Pope Leo XIV's fandom. The promotional night included a donation to a religious order and a ceremonial first pitch.
Key takeaways
- The Chicago White Sox distributed over 40,000 "Pope Hats" at a sold-out game on Tuesday.
- The promotion honored Pope Leo XIV, a native of Dolton, Illinois, and a noted White Sox fan.
- The event included a charitable donation to the Midwest Augustinian Province and a ceremonial first pitch.
- The giveaway expanded significantly in scale due to high demand for special ticket packages.
The Chicago White Sox hosted a promotional event on Tuesday where they distributed over 40,000 "Pope Hats" at Rate Field. The game against the Reds was the ninth sellout of the season, with 38,113 attendees.
The giveaway honored Pope Leo XIV, who is identified as a native of Dolton, Illinois, and a fan of the White Sox. The initiative initially began with a smaller promotion for 2,500 hats, but demand led to the distribution of 40,000 items. White Sox executive vice president Brooks Boyer noted this was an unprecedented scale for a promotional item.
Players acknowledged the promotion, with some only becoming aware of the giveaway shortly before the game. Despite the players' limited advance knowledge, some, including Brenton Doyle, Edgar Quero, and Miguel Vargas, donned the hats after hitting solo home runs during the team's 5-4 loss in 10 innings.
The event also included a charitable component. Chicago White Sox Charities presented a check to the Midwest Augustinian Province, the order to which Father Robert Prevost (Pope Leo XIV) belonged. Sister Mary Jo Sobieck of the Dominican Sisters of Springfield threw out a ceremonial first pitch. Former White Sox pitcher Donn Pall, nicknamed "The Pope," announced "Play Ball." Organist Nancy Faust also performed.
The "Pope Hat" was designed generically to be respectful of the papal office. The team also displayed a mural depicting the Pope at a World Series game, emphasizing their pride in his connection to the team.
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