Minor league baseball team in Utah cancels Caucasian Heritage Night

SALT LAKE CITY – A minor league baseball team in Utah has cancelled a promotion called “Caucasian Heritage Night.”

The Orem Owlz, a minor league affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels, had the promotion scheduled for Aug. 10.

The team said in a statement Friday that the promotion was planned as a joke with wonder bread on burgers with mayonnaise, clips of Friends and Seinfeld and an attempt to “solve the vertical leaping challenge.”

“We understand, in light of recent tragic events, that our intentions have been misconstrued. For that, we sincerely apologize,” the statement said.

The statement didn’t elaborate on what led to the cancellation, though there was heavy criticism online and on social media in the hours leading up to the announcement.

Team spokeswoman Kristen Mortensen declined to comment Friday, referring questions to the statement.

The team website originally advertised the promotion as, “Irish, Italian, Scandinavian, German…. or even Utahn! Whatever your background, celebrate it at the Home of the Owlz!”

Orem is 40 miles south of Salt Lake City.