NEW YORK -- A lineup of team logo baseball caps denounced as

tailor-made for gang members was ordered removed from store shelves

by its manufacturer Friday after complaints from baseball

officials.

"It has been brought to our attention that some combinations of

icons and colors on a select number of our caps could be too

closely perceived to be in association with gangs," said

Christopher H. Koch, CEO of New Era Cap. "In response, we, along

with Major League Baseball, have pulled those caps."

The three styles in question used colors and symbols linked to

three gangs: an all-white cap with a blue bandanna, the trademark

of the notorious Crips; an all-white cap with a red bandanna worn

by the rival Bloods; and a black cap with a gold team logo and an

embroidered crown, a symbol favored by the Latin Kings.

"We encouraged and now fully support the decision of cap

manufacturer New Era to pull these caps and any others that feature

offensive or concerning symbols," read an MLB statement.

The New York Yankees had joined an anti-gang group, Peace on the

Street, in denouncing the hats.

Both MLB and the Yankees insisted they were unaware of the

symbolism in the cap designs, with the New York team noting they

were never given a chance to review the new hats until they were

already for sale.

The team was "completely unaware that caps with gang-related

logos and colors had been manufactured with the New York Yankees

logo on them," said a Yankees statement. "The New York Yankees

oppose any garment that may be associated with gangs or

gang-related activity."

On Thursday, protesters demonstrated about the new caps outside

several Manhattan stores carrying the merchandise. The stores were

selling a version of the hats bearing the familiar interlocking

"NY" logo of the Yankees.

Richard Garcia, a karate instructor who works with Peace on the

Street to provide youngsters with alternatives to gangs, said he

immediately recognized the hats' colors from his work with former

gang members.

"My fear was that the wrong kid was going to wear the wrong hat

in the wrong neighborhood and get hurt," he said.

New Era said it would increase its efforts to ensure it had a

better working knowledge of gang symbols, names and locations. The

Buffalo-based company has produced hats for Major League Baseball

since the 1930s.