White Sox pope hat giveaway has some fans cashing in

Key Points:

• Thousands of White Sox fans received a free black-and-gold mitre hat featuring the team's logo, honoring fan Pope Leo XIV, during Tuesday night's game, with the giveaway extended to nearly 41,000 attendees.
• The exclusive "pope hat" has quickly appeared for sale on platforms like eBay and Facebook Marketplace, with prices ranging from $50 to $130, though authenticity of all hats is uncertain.
• Lifelong fan Erik Lipinsky sold his hat for $50 after trading it for a T-shirt at the game, receiving significant interest online, illustrating the hat's appeal as a collectible item.
• White Sox officials noted the promotion's success and reported that the pope himself was aware of the event, with the team viewing the giveaway as a creative celebration of a popular fan.
• Manager Will Venable and executive vice president Brooks Boyer praised the energy at the ballpark and emphasized the hat as a memorable and widely appreciated fan item.