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Former SF Giants player says he was banned from team reunion over support for Trump

by Marty Johnson - 02/18/20 12:31 PM ET

Former San Francisco Giants player Aubrey Huff on Tuesday claimed that team management had informed him he was not invited to a reunion and celebration of the 2010 Giants team that won the World Series over his support for Trump.

Huff in a tweeted statement said Giants CEO Larry Baer told him that the team’s decision was based on his “Twitter posts” and his “political support of Donald Trump.”

“My locker room humor on Twitter is meant to be satirical, and sarcastic. And it was that type of humor that loosened up the clubhouse in 2010 for our charge at the World Series,” Huff said.

“They loved it then, and it hasn’t changed. That’s not the issue. It’s politics,” he added. In the tweet, Huff tagged President Trump and Major League Baseball.

My response to @SFGiants

@mlb @realDonaldTrump pic.twitter.com/tDs8L8kGNi

— Aubrey Huff (@aubrey_huff) February 18, 2020

Huff also said that society is trying to take away the First Amendment rights of freedom of speech and freedom of political affiliation.

The Giants deny their decision to not invite Huff to the planned festivities was based on his political leanings.

“Earlier this month, we reached out to Aubrey Huff to let him know that he will not be included in the upcoming 2010 World Series Championship reunion,” the Giants said in an emailed statement.

“Aubrey has made multiple comments on social media that are unacceptable and run counter to the values of our organization. While we appreciate the many contributions that Aubrey made to the 2010 championship season, we stand by our decision,” the team said.

Gonna say this once and log off: Giants officials have made it clear to me they are not banning Aubrey Huff because they dislike or disagree with his political views. They believe he has crossed the line when it comes to misogyny, vulgarity and common decency. Words matter.

— Andrew Baggarly (@extrabaggs) February 17, 2020

Huff, who primarily played first base and outfield while with the Giants, was on the 2010 and 2012 teams that won the World Series.

The former Major Leaguer’s Twitter presence has garnered criticism in the past. In November, he tweeted a picture of himself at a gun range and wrote: “Getting my boys trained up on how to use a gun in the unlikely event @BernieSanders beats @realDonaldTrump in 2020.”

“In which case knowing how to effectively use a gun under socialism will be a must. By the way most the head shots were theirs,” he added.

Getting my boys trained up on how to use a gun in the unlikely event @BernieSanders beats @realDonaldTrump in 2020. In which case knowing how to effectively use a gun under socialism will be a must. By the way most the head shots were theirs. @NRA @WatchChad #2ndAmendment pic.twitter.com/6xUsS7ciX3

— Aubrey Huff (@aubrey_huff) November 26, 2019