By now it’s clear that the split this week between the Giants and their longtime public-address announcer was more than a routine parting of the ways.
Since the news became public Monday morning, outraged fans, media personalities and even politicians have come to the defense of Renel Brooks-Moon, a popular former radio host from Oakland who had been behind the microphone at Oracle Park since its doors opened in 2000.
The Brooks-Moon news was panned on social media and talk radio Monday, and even after news leaked that the Giants had agreed to terms with reigning N.L. Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell, her departure still had fans buzzing.
Brooks-Moon has not spoken publicly other than to thank fans on social media for their support, but plenty of voices have come to support her and chide the Giants.
“One thing I don’t like is the timing of the announcements,” said Rod Brooks, a longtime Bay Area sports talk radio and television studio host. “Either a massive coincidence, or it was done that way on purpose.”
Brooks (no relation to Brooks-Moon) added in an interview with the Bay Area News Group on Tuesday: “I think that on Opening Day, she should be the first person to say Blake Snell’s name at the park, she should be the first person to say (Jung Hoo) Lee’s name publicly, she should be the first person to say Bob Melvin’s name publicly.
“The fact that she isn’t, for whatever the reasons are, I just don’t think that those reasons are important enough for her not to be doing that.”
Brooks-Moon’s previous contract, according to reports, was a four-year deal reached before the 2020 season.
The Giants on Monday said they had “extensive discussions” with Brooks-Moon about a contract extension but “mutually and amicably agreed to part ways.”
Plenty of Giants fans on social media thought there was more to the story, though.
Charles Johnson, the majority owner of the Giants, has donated to numerous conservative political candidates over the years, which hasn’t won him any popularity contests in liberal San Francisco. In 2022, Johnson contributed thousands to Herschel Walker’s failed campaign for one of Georgia’s U.S. Senate seats.
In 2021, Brooks-Moon retweeted an article about Johnson’s political donations and wrote, “I’m not turning a blind eye to this, believe me….” Brooks-Moon, who is Black, was also vocal in her support of the Black Lives Matter movement after the police killing of George Floyd in 2020.
When asked Tuesday to comment on the backlash to Brooks-Moon’s departure, the Giants declined. They referred to their Monday news release, which included statements from Brooks-Moon, 65, and team president and CEO Larry Baer.
The team said it would name the announcer’s booth at Oracle Park in Brooks-Moon’s honor and recognize her 24 years of service during a ceremony at a game this season.
“Renel has been the familiar and inspirational voice for generations of players and fans at Oracle Park,” Baer said in a statement. “As an ambassador for the organization and a respected leader, Renel has been a Giant voice in the ballpark and in the community, and will be a Forever Giant.”
Brooks-Moon was the first woman to be a PA announcer for a World Series game. She also was the second female PA announcer in MLB history, following Sherry Davis, who handled the job for the Giants’ final seven seasons at Candlestick Park.
That’s where Brooks-Moon watched games as a little girl, never imagining she would become the voice of their future home.
“Representation matters, and it is my great hope that my time in the booth has inspired little girls, young women and people of color to pursue their dreams even if those dreams seem impossible — because impossible dreams can come true,” Brooks-Moon said in her statement released by the team.
Lou Richie, an Oakland native, social activist and longtime Bishop O’Dowd boys basketball coach, wished that the Giants had found a way to keep Brooks-Moon in the booth.
“It would have been nice if they had figured it out, considering that she’s such a rarity,” Richie said. “It’s like losing Barry Bonds or Mark McGwire, right? You don’t want to trade that player away.”
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The Giants didn’t trade away Brooks-Moon. But by not retaining her, they have seemingly made the departing announcer a sympathetic figure.
California state assemblymember Matt Haney, whose district includes Oracle Park, named Brooks-Moon the Woman of the Year on Tuesday.
“She wasn’t just another announcer, Renel was, and is, an icon in the Bay Area,” Haney said in a statement. “You hear her voice and it’s so familiar, you can’t help but associate her identity with the Giants and the Bay Area as a whole.
“I am proud to honor her not only for her trailblazing career as an announcer, but also for using her platform to support charities and community advocacy. She’s been a leader and an inspiration in everything she’s done. Renel opened the door for so many women and for people of color. The broadcasting industry will never be the same.”
Brooks considered the announcer a mentor, not just to him but to many others. He said that “we’ll never know the number” of people she has influenced.
“But I’m sure that number has got some zeroes behind it, and maybe a comma or two in there,” Brooks added.
Reporter Evan Webeck contributed to this story.