After 16 years heading up the Giants' ownership group -- a period that included the privately financed construction of AT&T Park and an NL pennant in 2002 -- Peter Magowan announced Friday that he is stepping down as the team's president and general partner.

Magowan, who was criticized in the Mitchell Report last winter, said he will retain shares in the club, but he will sell some of his stake to a group of current owners headed up by William Neukom, formerly Microsoft's top lawyer.

Magowan, 66, said he was not under pressure to resign after the Mitchell report singled out the Giants ownership and front office for failing to look into rumblings about Barry Bonds' alleged steroid use while with the team. Nor did the Giants' current lack of promise have anything to do with the decision.

"I'm sure there are a lot of people who will say there has to be other reasons, that (I'm) fed up with last place, or the Bonds investigation, the Mitchell Report or Bud Selig," Magowan said at a news conference. "I will tell you that, whether you believe it or not, it's not right. I'm leaving because I want to spend more time with my family."

With Neukom taking the reins, there are questions about GM Brian Sabean's job security. Said Neukom, "All I think I can say about that at this point is that I admire what he's done for the Giants. He's a part of us. In due course, we'll figure out how that's going to go forward."

WHITE SOX 2, GIANTS 0: San Francisco didn't lack for baserunners, with men aboard in every inning Friday, but the Giants did lack for runs, stranding nine. All the runs in the game came on Cuban defector Alexei Ramirez's first career homer off Jonathan Sanchez with two out in the seventh. Ramirez stepped to the plate with three hits in his previous 27 at-bats.

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