SAN FRANCISCO – Four bases dotted the Oracle Park infield and nine players lined up for the Giants and Padres.
The stands were full of enthusiasm on a perfect afternoon in San Francisco as home fans got their first in-person glimpse of the regular season of high-profile free agent signings.
But something was still missing on Friday in front of a packed house of 40,645 people.
For the first time since 1999, Renel Brooks-Moon has not announced the San Francisco Giants’ Opening Day lineups. Instead, long-time broadcaster Jon Miller took over.
Since Oracle (then known as Pacific Bell) Park opened in 2000, Brooks-Moon’s booming voice was a constant presence for a franchise with four World Series appearances and three championships.
But after the team announced that Brooks-Moon would not return to the booth following unsuccessful contract negotiations, CJ Silas was tasked with announcing the team’s first home series as part of an all-rotating casting call. throughout the season.
Even though several weeks have passed since Brooks-Moon’s firing, some Giants fans are still not happy with the decision.
“I’m not happy at all, and it’s not a good idea for the Giants,” Stacy Reno said. “She is the voice of the Giants. She’s been here since this stadium opened, and it’s sad to have her as presenter.
Silas called the team’s only home preseason game against the Oakland A’s a few weeks ago. His Dodgers fandom caused a brief furor among Giants fans.
Rosie Wendell said she had been a fan of the team her whole life and was “devastated” when she saw Brooks-Moon would not be back in the booth for her 25th season at Oracle.
“I grew up listening to him,” Wendell said, “Coming to the games and hearing his voice was cool.”
Tom Marovich has supported the Giants since the 1960s and was perplexed but not devastated by Brooks-Moon’s departure.
“It was weird,” die-hard fan Tom Marovich said, before adding, “But I felt like it was coming, because last year she didn’t play a lot of matches.”
Brooks-Moon wasn’t the only San Francisco mainstay missing Friday. 37-year-old shortstop Brandon Crawford saw his 13-year tenure with the team he grew up rooting for come to an end after last season when the Giants let him enter free agency. He now plays with the St. Louis Cardinals.
Fremont’s Pat O’Rourke (no relation to broadcaster De La Salle) has been watching the team since Willie Mays patrolled the outfield at Candlestick Park.
He understood that players came and went, but Crawford’s departure meant the end of an era he held dear for more reasons than the three World Series championships won between 2010 and 2014.
“I’m sad because there’s no one left from 10 years ago when I really followed the team with my grandkids,” O’Rourke said.
On the other hand, Marovich said he didn’t feel any strong feelings about either Crawford’s or Brooks-Moon’s absence.
“I look for the name on the front of the jersey, whoever is on the team,” Marovich said, pointing to the Giants logo on the front of his replica Willie Mays uniform. “I’m a Giants fan. I was neither a Madison Bumgarner fan nor a Brandon Crawford fan.
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