Former Oakland A’s mascot Annie Bowen reveals her secret love story with MLB pitcher Paul Blackburn, sharing how they dated in complete anonymity before marrying and starting a family—proving that even in pro sports, love can grow quietly behind the scenes.

Behind the booming crowds, seventh-inning stretches, and wild mascots dancing on the sidelines, a love story was quietly unfolding in the most unexpected way—between a Major League Baseball player and the woman behind one of those fuzzy mascot suits.

Now, for the first time, former MLB mascot turned WAG (wife or girlfriend of an athlete) Annie Bowen is stepping into the spotlight to share the relationship that blossomed behind the scenes—and away from the fans’ eyes.

Annie Bowen may not have been a household name during her time in the MLB world, but for years she was right in the middle of the action.

As a full-time mascot for the Oakland A’s from 2014 to 2019, she spent game after game entertaining crowds, leading cheers, and sweating through a heavy costume under the California sun. But while fans focused on the plays on the field, something much more intimate was happening off of it.

Annie met her now-husband, MLB pitcher Paul Blackburn, in 2017. Their romance, however, remained a complete secret to almost everyone around them—including their colleagues. “I never told anyone,” Annie recalls. “I was just the mascot. No one knew who I really was.”

In fact, that anonymity became something of a superpower. Annie could walk through the stadium completely unnoticed—until the moment she zipped up the suit and became Stomper, the team’s elephant mascot.

Even when she began dating one of the players, she remained invisible in the best way possible. “It was like being Hannah Montana,” she jokes. “Mascot by day, player’s girlfriend by night.”

The couple’s relationship grew quietly, away from the prying eyes of fans, teammates, and even fellow staff. Annie would enter the stadium through the mascot tunnel, while Paul took the players’ entrance.

Their public interactions were minimal, and their private time was just that—private.

Keeping things quiet wasn’t just about secrecy—it was also about self-preservation. Annie says she didn’t want to be seen as dating a player for attention or clout, especially while working in the same organization.

“People always assume there’s an angle,” she says. “But it wasn’t like that. We were just two people who clicked.”

Eventually, Annie stepped away from her role as Stomper in 2019, and their relationship became a bit more public—but only slightly. Even now, years later, the couple remains fiercely protective of their personal lives.

They quietly got married and welcomed their first child in 2023, a son named Banks. Still, Annie had never publicly shared the full story of their unconventional romance—until now.

And it’s easy to see why fans are fascinated. After all, how often do you hear about someone going from anonymous mascot to MLB wife? It’s a real-life rom-com, filled with quirky plot twists and heartfelt moments.

Annie’s story is also a reminder of the often-overlooked people who make professional sports run. Being a mascot might look fun from the stands, but it’s grueling, physical, and often thankless work.

Annie performed in the costume for five seasons, balancing high-energy antics, strict performance schedules, and the physical toll of dancing, running, and hyping up thousands of fans—all while never being seen.

“It was the best job I ever had,” she says. “But it was also the hardest. No one sees how much work it takes.”

Her transition from mascot to mom has been just as intense—but also deeply fulfilling. While Paul continues to play professionally, Annie is raising their son and beginning to share her story, little by little.

Her TikTok videos, which began as lighthearted behind-the-scenes looks at mascot life, have since gone viral—especially once followers realized she was married to a major league pitcher.

Fans are now flocking to her page for a glimpse into her unique perspective: life as a sports wife who knows exactly what it’s like to be on the other side of the stadium. Not cheering from the stands, but actually in the game—albeit in a giant elephant suit.

The more she shares, the more people fall in love with her story. It’s refreshing, relatable, and unexpected in a world often filled with glitz, glam, and curated perfection.

Annie’s approach is honest and humble. She doesn’t pretend it’s all easy, but she celebrates the joy in the journey—and the weird, wonderful path that got her here.

Looking back, she wouldn’t change a thing. “It was such a wild ride,” she says. “I got to be part of something I loved, and I found the person I love because of it. That’s pretty special.”

And with every post, every laugh, and every sweet moment with her son, Annie Bowen is proving that love doesn’t always need a spotlight—it can grow quietly behind a mask, between innings, and in the most unexpected places.