In an extraordinary piece of sporting history that reads like something from a Hollywood script, a long-forgotten encounter between Pope Leo XIII and Chicago baseball officials in 1902 may have contained a prophecy about the Cubs' legendary World Series drought.
The Vatican Audience That Changed Everything
During the spring of 1902, a delegation from Chicago's baseball world secured a rare audience with the aging Pope Leo XIII. What transpired in those hallowed Vatican halls would become the stuff of baseball legend, though the story remained largely hidden from public view for decades.
The meeting was arranged by Chicago White Sox owner Charles Comiskey and Cubs president Jim Hart, who were touring Europe following the previous baseball season. Their audience with the 91-year-old pontiff would become one of the most unusual intersections of religion and sport in modern history.
The Prophecy That Took 108 Years to Fulfil
According to historical accounts, Pope Leo XIII—known for his intellectual curiosity and engagement with contemporary issues—displayed genuine interest in America's burgeoning national pastime. After learning about the two Chicago baseball clubs, the Pope made a startling declaration.
"The small bears will win before the white stockings," the Pontiff allegedly proclaimed, referring to the Cubs' nickname and the White Sox's distinctive hosiery.
This seemingly casual remark would take on monumental significance as decades passed without either Chicago team claiming baseball's ultimate prize. The Cubs' World Series drought became the stuff of sporting legend, stretching to 108 years before their historic 2016 victory.
A Curse Broken Against All Odds
The White Sox, meanwhile, would break their own drought in 2005—but notably, this came after the Pope's prediction that the Cubs would win first. The sequence of events aligned perfectly with Leo XIII's 1902 statement, adding fuel to the legend that had been passed down through generations of baseball insiders.
What makes this story particularly compelling is the context of the prediction. In 1902, the Cubs were still years away from their first World Series appearance (1906), while baseball itself was barely established as America's national pastime. For a European religious leader to engage with the sport at all was remarkable; to allegedly foresee the resolution of baseball's most famous championship drought borders on the miraculous.
The Legacy of Leo's Sporting Insight
This fascinating anecdote serves as a powerful reminder of baseball's enduring place in American culture and its unexpected intersections with other aspects of society. The fact that a Pope would engage with what was then considered a purely American diversion speaks volumes about the global reach of sport, even in the early 20th century.
Whether one views the story as divine prophecy, remarkable coincidence, or simply great folklore, it remains one of the most captivating untold stories in sporting history—a testament to baseball's unique ability to generate legends that transcend the game itself.
