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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 ValleyCentral (KVEO/CBS4) - Sports
· June 25, 2026
· 1 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 Thurs...
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 The McAllen
The gift of a 2005 World Series baseball from A.J. Pierzynski to Pope Leo XIV may seem like an unusual intersection of sports and faith, but for Valley residents, it's a reminder that even global figures have connections to the region. While the story itself may not have a direct impact on McAllen , it speaks to the Valley's ties to the broader world. The fact that a former MLB player like Pierzynski would think to gift such a significant item to the Pope suggests that the Valley's sports enthusiasts have a wide reach. As the Rio Grande Valley continues to grow and diversify, stories like these highlight the complex web of relationships between local figures and the global community. For McAllen residents who follow sports, this exchange may spark interesting conversations about the Valley's place in the world of professional athletics.
About this story
Original reporting by ValleyCentral (KVEO/CBS4) - Sports . The McAllen 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 ValleyCentral (KVEO/CBS4) - Sports . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: June 25, 2026 ·
Source: ValleyCentral (KVEO/CBS4) - Sports ·
Reading time: 1 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 Thurs...
When was this published? This article was first published on June 25, 2026 by ValleyCentral (KVEO/CBS4) - Sports and curated for The McAllen readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by JAY COHEN, Associated Press at ValleyCentral (KVEO/CBS4) - Sports. To learn more about how The McAllen selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The McAllen, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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