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A Historic Catch: Former White Sox Catcher A.J. Pierzynski Gifts World Series Ball to Pope Leo XIV Pope Leo XIV’s collection of Chicago sports memorabilia just added a legendary piece of baseball history. Former Chicago White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski recently visited the Vatican to present the Pontiff with a unique gift: the actual baseball from the final out of Game 1 of the 2005 World Series. Pierzynski shared photos of the special meeting on social media, reflecting on the surreal moment. "7-year-old me, at my First Communion, would have never thought that I would get to meet The Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV," Pierzynski shared on Instagram. "I was honored to give him the last out ball from Game 1 of the 2005 World Series, the game he attended." The gift holds a deeply personal connection for the Pope. Long before he was elected as the Catholic Church's first American pontiff, Pope Leo XIV was known as Father Robert "Bob" Prevost—a devoted White Sox...