Rays apologize for sign Raymond held at game

ST. PETERSBURG -- The Rays issued the following statement in response to Raymond, the team mascot, holding up a fan's sign at Wednesday night's game that had an inappropriate joke about Steve Irwin, the late television personality who passed away after being stung by a stingray in 2006:

"Last night Rays mascot Raymond was handed an inappropriate sign brought to the game by a fan. Fans are welcome to bring signs into Tropicana Field provided they are not offensive. The Tampa Bay Rays regret that this particular sign was displayed in the ballpark, and we apologize for the lapse in judgment."