A special seat for the pope has been established at U.S. Illinois' Chicago Rate Field, home of the Chicago White Sox in Major League Baseball (MLB).
According to reports from the Associated Press and others on the 20th, the White Sox organization installed a graphic work at the seat where Pope Leo XIII sat. The scene of the pope, known as a White Sox fan, caught on the broadcast screen during Game 1 of the World Series in 2005 is located near column 140, row 19, seat 2.
It has been revealed that Pope Leo XIII, an American from Chicago, enjoyed watching MLB and was a fan of the White Sox, not the Cubs. White Sox fans showed up in pope costumes at the game against the rival Cubs held at Wrigley Field on the 17th, and the White Sox organization sent a uniform with 'POPE LEO' and the number 14 to the Vatican.
Brooks Boyer, the chief marketing officer of the White Sox, noted, "When fans come to the stadium, everyone will want to see the seat where the pope sat. That's why we installed it," adding, "The pope is always welcome to return to the stadium. He can sit in the seat again during Game 1 of the World Series or throw out the first pitch or hit the first ball."
Pope Leo XIII visited the stadium with his acquaintance Eddie Schmidt, who held a White Sox season ticket, and his grandson Eddie during Game 1 of the World Series in 2005 when he was active as 'Father Bob.'