CEO won’t elaborate on Brooks-Moon’s exit

At an open house to introduce changes coming this season at Oracle Park, San Francisco Giants President and CEO Larry Baer addressed perhaps the biggest change: The replacement of beloved public address announcer Renel Brooks-Moon.

Baer did not, however, shed any more light on why the Giants are making this change.

“As you know, we will have a new public address announcer, as Renel Brooks-Moon will not be returning, after 24 years in the booth,” Baer said Thursday. “She’s been a

Forever Giant in every way, similar to the players I mentioned. She’s an icon, she’s been an inspirational voice for generations of players and fans. She’s an ambassador for the Giants.

“Her legacy will be honored by naming the P.A. booth for her at a game. Renel is truly a Forever Giants and she is a San Francisco Giants icon.

“We’re going to start our search for a new P.A. announcer soon and understand the process will require time, because she’s a legend. Very very tough shoes to fill. In the meantime we’ll have rotating voices in the P.A. booth.”

The Giants announced in a press release Monday that, after “extensive” contract discussions, they decided to part ways with the only public address announcer the ballpark at Third and King has ever had.

Though the Giants described the separation as “mutual and amicable,” those close to BrooksMoon told the Chronicle that the popular announcer was being forced out of her dream job and that she wanted to complete her 25th season. Brooks-Moon has not been available for comment.

Baer, speaking to reporters after the formal presentation, refused to further elaborate on the Giants’ decision.

“We’re not going to comment beyond what was in the release,” Baer said. “We love Renel, we’re going to honor her. I was involved in her hiring back in 1999. It’s been an amazing 24 years. I can’t comment any more on that. As far as a new person, it’s going to be big shoes to fill, and we’re going to take our time.”

Rachel Heit, who joined the Giants last year as chief marketing officer, also did not provide any detail as to why such a bombshell decision came less than two weeks before the season opener and without a replacement plan in place.

“We tried to come to an outcome and future that both parties were happy with and this is where we are,” Heit said. “Renel is absolutely an icon. She has been a trailblazer. I’m very fortunate I had one year with her.”

The reaction to the news from Giants’ fans has been immediate and overwhelmingly negative. It has clouded what would otherwise be a triumphant week for the organization that added 2023 NL Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell on Monday evening.

One fan held a sign up behind home plate at a televised spring training game proclaiming “We Want Renel.”

A petition was started at Change.org to reinstate Brooks-Moon. As of Thursday afternoon, the petition had over 1,000 signatures. A group (@SFGiantshangout on X, formerly Twitter) is organizing a protest outside Oracle Park on March 26, before an exhibition game against the A’s, in the hopes of reinstating BrooksMoon.

Were the Giants surprised by the reaction?

“We’re not surprised that fans love Renel,” Baer said. “She’s an icon.”