The Voice of The Giants 

The Voice of The Giants

San Francisco Giants Public Address Announcer Renel Brooks-Moon breaks down color and gender lines making history in the process.

By: Felicia D. McDaniel
Sports Business Simulations

If you listen to her show in the mornings, you know there is no secret that Renel Brooks-Moon is a die-hard Raiders fan. Although she may bleed silver and black, her love of baseball started two generations before her birth when her grandfather taught her mother how to keep score on his favorite team, the San Francisco Giants. "Growing up I thought every family did what mine did," she laments.

How ironic that she would become the public address announcer for her mother and grandfather's favorite team, breaking gender and color lines for the grandfather who listened to games on his transistor radio because he couldn't attend the games. When he had to work, he had her mother keep score.

"As the team was coming out West (from New York) so was I," she laughs. Growing up in Oakland, Richmond and the Peninsula, Brooks-Moon has trailblazing in her blood. Her father, the late Nathaniel Brooks was the first African American in the Sequoia School District and now she's creating a legacy of her own as the first African American public address announcer male or female for a professional sport.

Invited to audition for the public announcer position for the new Pac Bell Park (now SBC Park), Brooks-Moon never thought she'd get the gig, even though she nailed the audition. "I knew I could do it but knowing this business and knowing people I didn't want to get my hopes up."

As the weeks went by after the first audition, she started having doubts about how she would be received by the Giants' audience. "I was afraid of the perception because of the music genre I've represented in radio," she said as well as the traditional purist views. As usual, her husband Tommie would give her words of wisdom. "He said, just remember you can make it," she replies.

"We knew she was the most qualified (person)," said Bryan Srabian, Director of Entertainment for the Giants. "I am glad that the powers that be felt the same way. She brought people to the park, she is so amazing and I can appreciate that."

Brooks-Moon received the call she had been waiting for; the Giants wanted her to come back a second time and when Renel did, she ripped it. Unbeknownst to her at that time GM Peter McGowan and Larry Baer where hiding out in the stadium and the rest they say, is HERstory.

"It was the day before Thanksgiving and vacation for me and Tommie, it was so surreal. I had to move, every situation was a milestone."

Surreal it was - It seemed as though Brooks-Moon was scripted for her position. Her brother who was a pitcher and her husband tried out for the Philadelphia Phillies. Not surprisingly, their first date was at an Oakland A's game.

"When we had to leave early and I turned on the radio in the car he was beside himself," she replies, at the thought of her date being surprised at her knowledge of baseball.

Heading into her fifth season with the Giants, Brooks-Moon cannot believe how the time has flown and is grateful for the opportunity that is normally sewed up by middle aged men. "I know there is no great turnover in PA Announcers," she said.

Most have welcomed her with open arms but there are those who have already pre-judged her. "I was prepared for that as a black woman. You know the look and the body language. They are not feeling you." Then there was the father/daughter duo who felt she was trying to upstage the game her first season. "The game is the star, I'm not the star."

Recognized by Jet Magazine as the first African-American to cover a World Series, Brooks-Moon still hasn't gotten the recognition she deserves. She has taken a giant step into uncharted territory as a female and woman of color and hopes this will open more doors but she admits that she has to be active as well.

"She is hard on herself," said Srabian, "She prepares like a Jerry Rice but she brings it every time with excellence and perfection. She has earned the respect of her peers, it's only a matter of time before she breaks the mold."

Proving herself has been a mixed blessing in disguise, as she is the only African-American in her production crew. She has used this opportunity to break any stereotypes some of her colleagues may have had of African-Americans as well as females.

"I work with the greatest guys who protect me. So many have told me I have made their lives better. To know you have changed some young persons life is amazing."

She admits that she wasn't prepared for the exhausting physical demands that the job entails. Getting in a couple of hours before the game she greets everyone with a smile pulls out her favorite baseball statue and scorebook and immediately goes into professional mode.

She has to study her reads and special announcements that are prepared in advance. In addition, she's required to participate in pre-game festivities. When that assignment ends, she is whisked off the field and back into the announcing booth in just enough time to announce the first pitch.

"I didn't know what to imagine. People think it's easy and you just read from a peace of paper. You have rain delays, double-headers, etc." As well as television timeouts and umpire calls, something Brooks-Moon says you really have to pay attention to or you can miss your cue.

People have even tried to give this English major advice on the proper pronunciation of names. Which are sometimes difficult to pronounce in baseball.

"I was told early in my career not to turn the mike on if you don't know what you're trying to say," she said in a joking tone. "Barry (Bonds) said it ain't that serious, just get the names right."

Renel Brooks-Moon starts her fifth season at SBC Park (formerly Pac Bell Park) this April. She can also be heard Mondays, Fridays from 6:00am - 10:00am on 98.1 KISS-FM.