SAN FRANCISCO – Four bases dotted the Oracle Park infield and nine players lined up for the Giants and Padres.
The stands teemed with excitement on a perfect San Francisco afternoon as the home fans got their first in-person regular-season look at high-profile free-agent signings.
But something was still missing on Friday before a sold-out crowd of 40,645.
For the first time since 1999, the Renel Brooks-Moon did not announce Opening Day lineups for the San Francisco Giants. Rather, longtime broadcaster Jon Miller filled in.
Ever since Oracle (then known as Pacific Bell) Park opened in 2000, Brooks-Moon’s booming voice was a steady 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 tabbed to announce the team’s first home series as part of a revolving cast throughout the season.
Even though several weeks have passed since Brooks-Moon was let go, some Giants fans still aren’t happy about the move.
“I’m not happy about it at all, and it’s not a good look for the Giants,” Stacy Reno said. “She’s the voice of the Giants. She’s been here since this ballpark opened, and it’s sad to have her as our announcer.”
Silas announced the team’s one home preseason game against the Oakland A’s a few weeks ago. Her Dodgers fandom caused a brief furor among Giants fans.
Rosie Wendell said she has been a fan of the team all her life, and said she was “devastated” when she saw that Brooks-Moon wouldn’t be back in the booth for her 25th season at Oracle.
“I grew up listening to her,“ Wendell said, ”Coming to the games and hearing her voice was cool.”
Tom Marovich has been rooting for the Giants since the 1960s, and was perplexed but not devastated by Brooks-Moon’s departure.
“It was weird,” said diehard fan Tom Marovich, before adding, “But I felt it was coming, because last year she didn’t do a lot of games.”
Brooks-Moon wasn’t the only San Francisco mainstay that was missing on Friday. Thirty-seven 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 walk in free agency. He’s now with the St. Louis Cardinals.
Pat O’Rourke of Fremont (no relation to the De La Salle broadcaster) has been watching the team since Willie Mays patrolled the outfield at Candlestick Park.
He understood that players come and go, but Crawford’s departure signified the end of an era he held dear for more reasons than the three World Series championships won between 2010-14.
“I’m sad because there’s no one left from 10 years ago when I was really following the team with my grandkids,” O’Rourke said.
On the other hand, Marovich said that he felt no strong feelings about neither Crawford nor Brooks-Moon’s absence.
“I root 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 Willie Mays replica uniform. “I’m a Giants fan. I wasn’t a Madison Bumgarner fan or a Brandon Crawford fan.”