White Sox to Give Away Pope-Themed Hats to All Fans

Team expands original limited-edition promotion for August 11 game.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 6:52pm

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A cubist, geometric painting featuring overlapping planes of the official team colors of the Chicago White Sox and Cincinnati Reds, conceptually representing the energy and excitement of a baseball game.The White Sox's tribute to their famous Chicago native fan Pope Leo XIV will bring a vibrant, community-driven energy to the ballpark.Chicago Today

The Chicago White Sox are expanding their tribute to Pope Leo XIV, a Chicago native and longtime fan of the baseball team, by giving away pope-themed hats to all fans who attend their August 11 game against the Cincinnati Reds. The promotional item was originally limited to fans who had purchased specialty theme night tickets, but the team has now decided to make the hats available to all attendees.

Why it matters

The White Sox's decision to expand the pope-themed hat giveaway reflects the team's efforts to honor its local roots and engage with its fanbase. As a Chicago native, Pope Leo XIV had a long history of supporting the White Sox, and this promotion allows the team to celebrate that connection while also potentially drawing larger crowds to the August 11 game.

The details

The pope-themed hats will feature the White Sox logo along with imagery and symbols associated with the papacy. Originally, the hats were only going to be distributed to fans who had purchased specialty theme night tickets, but the team has now decided to make them available to all attendees at the August 11 game against the Cincinnati Reds.

  • The White Sox announced the expanded pope-themed hat giveaway on Friday, April 10, 2026.
  • The hats will be distributed at the team's August 11, 2026 game against the Cincinnati Reds.

The players

Pope Leo XIV

A Chicago native who was a longtime fan of the White Sox baseball team.

Chicago White Sox

A Major League Baseball team based in Chicago, Illinois.

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What they’re saying

“We wanted to make sure all of our fans had the opportunity to celebrate Pope Leo XIV's legacy and his love for the White Sox.”

— Jim Thome, White Sox Team President

What’s next

The White Sox will distribute the pope-themed hats to all fans who attend the August 11 game against the Cincinnati Reds.

The takeaway

The White Sox's decision to expand their pope-themed hat giveaway demonstrates the team's commitment to honoring its local history and engaging with its passionate fanbase in creative ways.