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OGDEN — The Ogden Raptors minor league baseball team deleted a press release announcing the team's "Hourglass Appreciation Night" at about 9 p.m. Monday.
Here's a screenshot of the announcement, thanks to New York Daily News' Kate Feldman:
The release boasts three cartoon women in bikinis before stating that 18 "hourglass-shaped color commentators" from Stars Talent Studio of Salt Lake City would join Raptors play-by-play man A.P. Harreld in the commentary box. Then, the team would stream the proceedings in the booth. Or, "well, at least the better-looking half of it!" according to the release.
Raptors President Dave Baggott said Tuesday the team regrets "an unauthorized press release" that was sent out over the weekend and that it was not approved by the team's management.
"This promotion will not take place and steps have been put in place to ensure this will not happen again," he said in a statement. "The Ogden Raptors offer sincere apology to anyone who was offended by the promotion itself and the contents of the press release, and in no way supports the objectification of women."
Founded in 1977, the Raptors are the rookie league half-season affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Baggott said the promotion does not reflect the values of the Raptors or the Dodgers.
Women expressed their displeasure at the event and the press release itself on social media.
Meanwhile, the event has been covered and criticized by NBC Sports, Baseball America, Sports Illustrated and numerous other outlets.
The promotional night gone wrong comes one year after the Raptors' Pioneer League competitors, the Orem Owlz, announced a "Caucasian Heritage Night." That event was also hastily canceled after massive public outcry.
