How Much Pope Leo XIV Signed MLB Baseball Sold for at Auction

An American Pope means America's pastime has a connection to the Vatican, and one memorabilia collector now has a signed Pope Leo XIV baseball as a result.

An auction for an official Rawlings Major League Baseball that the current Pope signed ended Wednesday through RR Auction with a winning bid of $5,300. The auction description said it was "in very fine condition" and came from the Randy L. Kaplan Collection of Signed Baseballs from World Leaders and Heads of State.

Kaplan sent letters to the Vatican offices and received the signed baseball back in his mailbox. 

Pope Leo XIV is from Chicago and is a known Chicago White Sox fan. He was even in attendance for the team's Game 1 victory over the Houston Astros during the 2005 World Series.

The current Pope is the first person from the United States to hold that position, and Chicago's American League team certainly didn't miss the chance to celebrate its connection to the Vatican this summer when the news was announced:

Pope Leo XIV also recorded a taped message from the Vatican for supporters who were gathered at the White Sox's Rate Field this summer.

Now someone else can join in the baseball celebrations revolving around the Pope after winning the signed baseball in Wednesday's auction.