White Sox to Distribute Unique ‘Pope Hats’ to Fans
During a Vatican visit last year, Pope Leo XIV was seen wearing a Chicago White Sox cap. In an unusual nod to this moment, baseball fans at the Aug. 11 game against the Cincinnati Reds at Rate Field will receive a special White Sox mitre, a ceremonial style hat. This plan initially targeted 1,500 attendees but was expanded to all due to high demand.
Mike Downey, the White Sox senior director of marketing and fan promotions, highlighted the overwhelming positive reaction: “In 24 hours, we tripled ticket sales, prompting us to make it an all-fan giveaway.” This initiative means over 40,000 mitres will fill the stadium.
The idea emerged when Pope Leo was announced. Born Robert Francis Prevost, he is a Chicago native and a White Sox fan. Downey noted that Pope-themed promotions have never been possible because there hadn’t been a U.S. pope or one known to be a baseball fan. While considering ideas, including a pope bobblehead, they were unable to get official permissions from the Vatican. However, fans often dressed in pope costumes, inspiring the club.
Downey sought advice from Father Tom Hurley, a local priest, to ensure respectfulness: “We want to celebrate the pope as a Chicagoan and White Sox supporter without offending Catholics.” Father Hurley approved the mitre idea. The design remains general, without incorporating the pope’s name or image. Downey compares it to past hat giveaways like sailor and cowboy hats, citing ownership issues, “Nobody owns the rights to the pope hat.”
“If I go to a promotions company and say, ‘I want a hat with a black stripe across it,’ they would just go purchase 20,000 hats,” Downey explained. But manufacturing unique mitres proved challenging.
The team partnered with Cotopaxi, a company adept at scaling production from 1,500 to over 40,000 hats. Opting for quality, they eschewed cheaper alternatives such as collapsible cardboard hats. Downey remarked, “We pride ourselves in offering high-quality promotional items.” The result is a sturdy hat standing 11 inches tall.
While the White Sox did not seek Vatican approval, they hope Pope Leo is aware of the promotion. The hats are not only for fans but will be shared with team members, including the Cincinnati Reds, if interested.
Beyond the hats, the Aug. 11 game will feature in-game tributes to both Pope Leo and the church. Anticipated as a unique cultural event, Chicagoans and visitors alike are urged to attend. As Downey put it, “It’s going to be so unique, you don’t have to be a White Sox fan to want to be there.”
With nearly 25 giveaways scheduled for the season, timing is crucial. The mitres are expected to arrive a week before the game, a timeline Downey feels confident about: “We have the pope on our side.”