Renel Brooks-Moon Departure Shows Giants True Colors as Organization

Fans of the San Francisco Giants could finally exhale this offseason when they announced notable additions like Blake Snell and Jorge Soler after whiffing in free agency the last few years. But just as the franchise seemed to turn a corner, ownership rekindled outrage among the fanbase by not resigning an irreplaceable talent. 

One week ago, the San Francisco Giants announced that longtime PA announcer Renel Brooks-Moon, a beloved figure not only in the MLB community but in San Francisco as well, have “mutually and amicably agreed to part ways” after her contract ended December 2023. 

A Bay Area native, Brooks-Moon has been the voice of the Giants game day experience since Oracle Park opened in April of 2000 as Pacific Bell Park. She became the first female PA announcer for a World Series in 2002, also marking the first time a female worked the PA mic for a championship in any major sport. She was there for Barry Bonds breaking both home run records, for Tim Lincecum's explosion onto the scene winning back to back Cy Youngs in 2008 and 2009, for a Giants dynasty capped by championships in 2010, 2012, and 2014, for retiring multiple numbers including Bonds and Will Clark, for sending fan favorites like Matt Cain, Ryan Vogelsong, and Bruce Bochy off into the sunset for their last moments as Giants. 

Not resigning Renel speaks volumes for an ownership that continues to alienate the fanbase. Just in the 2020’s, Farhan Zaidi blamed the city of San Francisco itself for not sealing the deal on acquiring free agents, owner Charles Johnson’s countless head scratching political donations that seem to antagonize San Francisco and its inhabitants, and now an iconic member of the fan experience, who is a local, is thrown to the curb despite being the gold standard in her field. 

The Giants hilariously tone deaf announcement came with news that they would use a rotation of PA announcers until finding a permanent replacement, sticking with the platooning ethos that has irked the fanbase the last few years in a role that should never have opened now or any time in the foreseeable future. Even though Renel was forced out, not amicably nor mutually, at least Larry Baer announced the Giants are naming the PA booth after her.

The Giants reputation as a franchise used to be known as one that does things the right way, often operating as the gold standard in ceremonies, celebrations, and honoring fan favorites with a sense of true family like love. The Giants were a franchise that at least appeared to care about the feelings of the fanbase and their experience.

Renel Brooks-Moon is a part of this community. She embodies San Francisco and the wonderful spirit of those who live in this marvelous city, and the Giants forced her out. Long gone are the days where the Giants cared about the people filling the seats. Now all they care about is that enough people enter the Willie Mays Gates to buy overpriced food and even more over priced beer. As long as dollars are being spent, Giants brass is happy. 

What’s even more insulting is the Giants announcing significant upgrades to their sound system and lighting. Unfortunately there's no money in the budget to keep a beloved figure that is woven into the history and fondest memories of the franchise. Apparently that’s expendable. Message sent. 

The San Francisco Giants do not care about their fans, they don't care about the city they reside in, and they don't even care enough to try and hide it from you. The Giants used to be an institution part of the pulse of the city. Now it's just a cold corporation, hallowed out from the inside.