Note: Today, San Francisco Giants managing general partner and chief executive officer Bill Neukom announced he would officially step down and eventually divest his shares in the team. Here is his letter to fans.

To Our Fans,

As you have undoubtedly heard in media reports, today I announced my intention to retire at the end of this year. I will be succeeded by current President and Chief Operating Officer Larry Baer, who will become Chief Executive Officer. I will serve as Chairman Emeritus during the 2012 year.

I want to thank you for your support and commitment throughout my tenure. It has been an amazing journey, which began for me when I was a youngster living in San Mateo Park next door to Charlie Graham Jr., the general manager of the San Francisco Seals. It was his daughter, Tina, who rounded up the boys next door to play baseball with her. It is where my passion for this extraordinary game began, and I’ve been hooked ever since. Never in my dreams did I think I would become a member of the Giants ownership group in 1994 and then managing general partner and CEO in 2008.

In many ways, the Giants are a community asset in the same way a museum or symphony are part of the fabric of a city. Those of us who are fortunate to work for an organization as special as the Giants are in fact “stewards” of an entity that belongs to the broader community – to each of you. It has been a privilege to lead the organization and to work with a talented group of individuals who have dedicated their lives to stewarding this civic treasure.

Together, we have accomplished a number of objectives – returning to winning baseball, instituting professional managements systems, integrating the business and the baseball operations, creating strong attendance and revenue momentum, and, of course the ultimate objective of bringing a World Championship to San Francisco. In sum, the state of the Giants is stronger than ever.

The Giants front office is one of the best in baseball and under Larry’s leadership it will certainly continue to deliver on our commitment to winning. While I may be retiring from my day-to-day duties, I remain a passionate and committed fan who looks forward to watching the Giants contend for the title year in and year out.

It has truly been an honor to stand shoulder to shoulder with you to root for our favorite team. I thank you for sharing your passion and, most importantly, your generosity. As active members of the community, we have asked many of you to assist us and you have always been there to support the work of our Giants Community Fund initiatives and all of our community programs. We have the best fans in baseball, and I can’t think of a team that is more connected to its fans.

All the best,

Bill Neukom

Managing General Partner and Chief Executive Officer