White Sox to mark Pope Leo XIV's seat at 2005 World Series game
The White Sox will commemorate Pope Leo XIV attending one of the 2005 World Series games with a graphic installation in the section where he sat.
The Sox will put a "graphic installation" near Section 140, where the now-pope sat with close family friend, the late Ed Schmidt, during Game 1 of the 2005 World Series.
The artwork commemorates the first U.S.-born pope's Chicago roots and the "unifying power of baseball," the team said. It features a smiling mural of the pope, and a frame grab from the TV broadcast in which he appeared in the stands.
A 5-year-old boy is also seated next to the future pope in the TV frame grab. That boy — Ed Schmidt's grandson, Eddie Schmidt — is now a man.
"A lot of you guys might know me as the kid that sat next to him at the World Series in Game 1. That's one game that I will never forget that I was sitting next to him," said Eddie Schmidt. "I don't want anyone to think he's a Cubs fan, because he's not a Cubs fan. The pope is a White Sox fan, and we have proof."
The White Sox say the pope is welcome back at Rate Field anytime.
"The pope absolutely has an open invite to come back, to come sit in Section 140, to throw out a first pitch," said Chicago White Sox senior vice president and chief revenue and marketing officer Brooks Boyer. "Maybe we'll let him get an at-bat."
Chicago sports fans immediately began arguing over whether the new pope was a Cubs or Sox fan after he was elected at the conclave two weeks ago.
His brother John Prevost was the first to settle the debate, confirming his brother had been a proud White Sox fan since they were altar boys growing up in Dolton, Illinois.
The late Ed Schmidt was a season ticket holder who knew the pope through their work together at St. Rita of Cascia High School. His son Nick now holds the season tickets for the same seats.
There will also soon be a special marking for the seat where the pope sat for that World Series Game — Row 19, Seat 2.
The Chicago Archdiocese will also host a celebration of Pope Leo XIV on June 14 at Rate Field.
