Nearly two weeks after the San Francisco Giants’ Pride Night controversy spiraled into a public-relations crisis, team president and CEO Larry Baer finally addressed the situation.
Frustration had been building among fans — particularly within the LGBTQ community — over the organization’s silence after three pitchers wrote Bible verses on their Pride-themed caps and another player declined to wear one on June 12. Baer’s brief appearance Thursday on the team’s flagship radio station marked the first meaningful acknowledgment from top leadership that the issue mattered and that the LGBTQ community remains important to the franchise.
Before beginning his interview on KNBR, Baer said he wanted to speak directly and sincerely to fans. He emphasized his long-standing involvement with the ownership group and stressed that the Giants have supported the LGBTQ community for more than three decades, calling that commitment strong and unwavering.
Baer acknowledged the emotional response from fans and said the organization has heard the concerns. He framed inclusivity as a guiding principle for the franchise, noting that for over 30 years the Giants have aimed to create a ballpark environment — from Candlestick Park to Oracle Park — where everyone feels welcome. He reiterated that this mission has not changed and will not change, adding that the club takes pride in being an industry leader in its relationship with the LGBTQ community.
He also pointed to the team’s longstanding “Until There’s a Cure Day,” which began in 1994 during the height of the AIDS epidemic and continues to this day, with the next event scheduled for August 10. Baer noted that the Giants are one of only two MLB teams to wear Pride hats.
The organization’s lack of a prompt and visible response after the actions of Landen Roupp, Ryan Walker, JT Brubaker, and Sam Hentges deeply disappointed many fans. Complaints poured in, including messages shared with media outlets, criticizing the team for addressing the matter only with a brief statement. Earlier in the week, president of baseball operations Buster Posey spoke to reporters but declined to discuss the Pride Night controversy, repeatedly steering questions back to baseball matters.
It remains unclear why Baer did not step in sooner. On Thursday, he replaced Posey on the scheduled radio appearance and admitted the organization fell short.
Baer said the Giants have learned from the past 11 days and acknowledged that the situation could have been handled better. He emphasized the team’s commitment to continuing conversations with LGBTQ+ community members and said that long-standing community partners understand the organization’s values. His goal, he said, was to clearly deliver that message and then move forward.
There is also speculation that the Giants are mindful of potential scrutiny from the Department of Justice following its comments about investigating Major League Baseball over religious expression, after MLB clarified that players are not allowed to write messages of any kind on their hats. No fines were issued, and the players involved have said they do not feel they were discriminated against.
Fans who contacted the Giants in the aftermath of Pride Night received an email response from Baer on Thursday that echoed his radio comments. In the message, he thanked fans for reaching out and acknowledged the strong emotions surrounding the event, conceding that a night intended to celebrate inclusiveness did not feel that way for many.
The letter reiterated the team’s history of LGBTQ support and concluded by admitting that mistakes were made. Baer said the organization has already begun discussions with members of the LGBTQ community and is committed to learning from the experience, thanking fans for their passion and care for both the community and the team.