Mayor calls for strong action vs. Baer

SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. >> San Francisco Mayor London Breed joined with leaders of the city’s domestic violence community in calling for Major League Baseball to take strong disciplinary action against Giants CEO Larry Baer.

Baer, 61, was involved in a public altercation with his wife Pam, 59, at a park in San Francisco on March 1. The dispute turned physical when Baer attempted to grab a cell phone out of his wife’s hand. Pam Baer fell out of a chair and was seen on video screaming, “Oh my God! … Help!”

The Giants announced March 4 that Baer would take an indefinite leave of absence and will allow Major League Baseball to take the lead in gathering facts surrounding the situation.

Two weeks after Baer began his leave, Mayor Breed released the following statement. “When the incident first occurred involving Larry Baer and his wife, the San Francisco Police Department immediately began an investigation. That investigation is ongoing, but regardless of the outcome, Major League Baseball needs to send a message that any and all acts of violence against women is unacceptable. The letter written by several respected women leaders in our domestic violence community echoes an all too familiar reality where incidents involving violence against women are not met with true accountability. While Mr. Baer has apologized and expressed remorse for his behavior, it does not excuse his actions and it does not erase what transpired. Mr. Baer’s actions were serious and wrong. We are a City that loves and supports our San Francisco Giants, and that means holding our organization and its leaders to the highest of standards. Every little girl, every woman should be able to attend a Giants game with a clear sense of the organization’s values. I share in the call to action by the women who have written the Commissioner calling for greater accountability. There must be a stronger public reaction and response to violence against women in our City and our country.”

Baer was not present in Scottsdale this weekend as the franchise’s investors traveled to the area. He has not been in contact with Giants officials during his leave of absence and the club is awaiting a decision on potential disciplinary action from Major League Baseball.

The league has not set a timetable for its investigation into the incident involving Baer and the Giants have not been informed if a decision regarding disciplinary action is expected before the start of the regular season on March 28. With Baer on leave, members of the Giants executive team including president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi, vice president of communications Staci Slaughter, vice president of business operations Mario Alioto, general counsel Jack Bair and vice president of administration Alfonso Felder are reporting directly to the San Francisco Giants’ board of directors, which includes members of the franchise’s ownership group.

After the incident occurred, Baer released his own public statement apologizing for his actions.

“I am truly sorry for the pain that I have brought to my wife, children and to the organization,” Baer said. “It is not reflective of the kind of a person that I aspire to be, but it happened and I will do whatever it takes to make sure that I never behave in such an inappropriate manner again.”

Baer has not given any interviews since beginning his leave of absence.