Anna Benson
Encyclopedia
Anna Benson is an American
model
, and wife of former Major League Baseball
pitcher Kris Benson
. Benson is known for her outspoken personality and for being a "baseball wife."
on February 12, 1976. (Benson, who calls herself a "harlot," says of people in her native state "They're so judgmental. It’s real Bible Belt
.") A self-described "lonely latchkey kid
," Benson dropped out of school following her sophomore
year of high school
, and left home when she was sixteen. Subsequently, she says, “I was a dancer in the Atlanta strip clubs.... I had a baby and then a husband when I was seventeen." In 1998, she met her future husband, Kris, while she was dancing at the Mardi Gras, a strip club in Atlanta, when he was playing for the Nashville Sounds
in the minor leagues. (They had attended rival high schools in Georgia, but had never gotten to know one another prior to this meeting.) She and Kris Benson were married in October 1999 (her second marriage, his first). The Bensons were soon labeled "baseball's most incongruous couple," with Anna having "diverted attention" from a star pitcher who "often fades into the periphery." Anna filed for divorce
on March 31, 2006, citing an "irretrievably broken" marriage. Anna Benson—who commented, "when I came to Kris, I had nothing—two pairs of panties
and one bra
; suddenly, I found I was married to a millionaire
". She later withdrew the petition, and subsequently has had another child with Kris. Altogether, they are raising four children: her daughter Alyssa (from a previous marriage), their daughter Haylee, and sons P.J. (from "Paul James") and Devin. They currently reside in Atlanta.
. In November 2004, Benson posed for the cover and a spread in FHM
magazine and was named "baseball's hottest wife." In an interview with Howard Stern
later that year, she vowed that if her husband ever cheated on her she would take revenge by sleeping with the entire Mets organization. Benson later explained the comment as "stupid humor to be understood by these idiots who take everything so literally. In July 2005, she began playing at the 2005 World Series of Poker
in Las Vegas
under the nickname the "Gold Digger". She outlasted 70% of the overall playing field.
The New York Times, having previously noted Anna Benson's "calculated outrageousness," wrote that in "her one year in New York, Anna Benson drove the Mets to distraction." Sports reporter Murray Chass, described by baseball's Hall of Fame as "a pioneer in the coverage of business and labor issues within baseball," wrote of the Mets-Orioles trade, "Kris Benson doesn't have a good enough arm for the Mets to overlook his wife's mouth. ... And by trading Anna Benson, the Mets may have achieved what [former Yankees manager] Casey Stengel called addition by subtraction." Kris Benson himself later said that he felt New York traded him to Baltimore because of his wife, but Omar Minaya, general manager of the Mets, ultimately discounted speculation that her behavior had played a role, saying, "We just made a baseball trade." Mirroring Chass' linkage of the Bensons, Sports Illustrated
opined that Anne Benson's "outlandish antics" had ultimately come to overshadow her husband's "few good years" in the major leagues.
Benson has worked with charitable organizations over the years such as the Pittsburgh Children's Hospital
, Salvation Army
and American Red Cross
. The couple has a non-profit charity called Benson's Battalion that helped area police
forces in the cities where her husband played.
, Sports Illustrated
, The New Yorker
and on the cover of The Sporting News
. In New York, she was featured in the New York Post
Page 6 and Daily News
. Benson also appeared on the radio during the Dan Patrick Show.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
model
Model (person)
A model , sometimes called a mannequin, is a person who is employed to display, advertise and promote commercial products or to serve as a subject of works of art....
, and wife of former Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher Kris Benson
Kris Benson
Kristin James Benson is a former Major League Baseball starting pitcher. Benson pitched for the Pittsburgh Pirates from to , New York Mets from to , Baltimore Orioles in to , Texas Rangers in , and Arizona Diamondbacks in ....
. Benson is known for her outspoken personality and for being a "baseball wife."
Personal life
Anna Benson was born outside of Atlanta, GeorgiaGeorgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
on February 12, 1976. (Benson, who calls herself a "harlot," says of people in her native state "They're so judgmental. It’s real Bible Belt
Bible Belt
Bible Belt is an informal term for a region in the southeastern and south-central United States in which socially conservative evangelical Protestantism is a significant part of the culture and Christian church attendance across the denominations is generally higher than the nation's average.The...
.") A self-described "lonely latchkey kid
Latchkey kid
A latchkey kid or latchkey child is a child who returns from school to an empty home because his or her parent or parents are away at work, or a child who is often left at home with little or no parental supervision.- History of the term :...
," Benson dropped out of school following her sophomore
Sophomore
Sophomore is a term used in the United States to describe a student in the second year of study at high school or university.The word is also used as a synonym for "second", for the second album or EP released by a musician or group, the second movie of a director, or the second season of a...
year of high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
, and left home when she was sixteen. Subsequently, she says, “I was a dancer in the Atlanta strip clubs.... I had a baby and then a husband when I was seventeen." In 1998, she met her future husband, Kris, while she was dancing at the Mardi Gras, a strip club in Atlanta, when he was playing for the Nashville Sounds
Nashville Sounds
The Nashville Sounds are a minor league baseball team of the Pacific Coast League , and the Triple-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. They are located in Nashville, Tennessee, and are named for the city's association with the music industry...
in the minor leagues. (They had attended rival high schools in Georgia, but had never gotten to know one another prior to this meeting.) She and Kris Benson were married in October 1999 (her second marriage, his first). The Bensons were soon labeled "baseball's most incongruous couple," with Anna having "diverted attention" from a star pitcher who "often fades into the periphery." Anna filed for divorce
Divorce
Divorce is the final termination of a marital union, canceling the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage and dissolving the bonds of matrimony between the parties...
on March 31, 2006, citing an "irretrievably broken" marriage. Anna Benson—who commented, "when I came to Kris, I had nothing—two pairs of panties
Panties
Panties are a form of underwear, usually light and snug-fitting, designed to be worn by women or girls in the area directly below the waist. Typical components include an elastic waistband, a crotch panel to cover the genital area , and a pair of leg openings which, like the waistband, are often...
and one bra
Bra
Bra may refer to:-Places:Italy* Bra, Piedmont, a comune in the Province of Cuneo, Piedmont* Piazza Bra, a piazza in VeronaUnited States* Brattleboro , a rail station in Windham County, Vermont-Other uses:...
; suddenly, I found I was married to a millionaire
Millionaire
A millionaire is an individual whose net worth or wealth is equal to or exceeds one million units of currency. It can also be a person who owns one million units of currency in a bank account or savings account...
". She later withdrew the petition, and subsequently has had another child with Kris. Altogether, they are raising four children: her daughter Alyssa (from a previous marriage), their daughter Haylee, and sons P.J. (from "Paul James") and Devin. They currently reside in Atlanta.
Public life
On July 30, 2004, the Pirates traded Kris Benson to the New York MetsNew York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
. In November 2004, Benson posed for the cover and a spread in FHM
FHM
FHM, originally published as For Him Magazine, is an international monthly men's lifestyle magazine.- History :The magazine began publication in 1985 in the United Kingdom under the name For Him and changed its title to FHM in 1994 when Emap Consumer Media bought the magazine, although the full For...
magazine and was named "baseball's hottest wife." In an interview with Howard Stern
Howard Stern
Howard Allan Stern is an American radio personality, television host, author, and actor best known for his radio show, which was nationally syndicated from 1986 to 2005. He gained wide recognition in the 1990s where he was labeled a "shock jock" for his outspoken and sometimes controversial style...
later that year, she vowed that if her husband ever cheated on her she would take revenge by sleeping with the entire Mets organization. Benson later explained the comment as "stupid humor to be understood by these idiots who take everything so literally. In July 2005, she began playing at the 2005 World Series of Poker
2005 World Series of Poker
The 2005 World Series of Poker opened play on June 2, continuing through the Main Event No Limit World Championship starting on July 7. The conclusion of the Main Event on July 15 marked the close of play, and the largest prize in sports and/or television history at the time was awarded to the...
in Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
under the nickname the "Gold Digger". She outlasted 70% of the overall playing field.
The New York Times, having previously noted Anna Benson's "calculated outrageousness," wrote that in "her one year in New York, Anna Benson drove the Mets to distraction." Sports reporter Murray Chass, described by baseball's Hall of Fame as "a pioneer in the coverage of business and labor issues within baseball," wrote of the Mets-Orioles trade, "Kris Benson doesn't have a good enough arm for the Mets to overlook his wife's mouth. ... And by trading Anna Benson, the Mets may have achieved what [former Yankees manager] Casey Stengel called addition by subtraction." Kris Benson himself later said that he felt New York traded him to Baltimore because of his wife, but Omar Minaya, general manager of the Mets, ultimately discounted speculation that her behavior had played a role, saying, "We just made a baseball trade." Mirroring Chass' linkage of the Bensons, Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
opined that Anne Benson's "outlandish antics" had ultimately come to overshadow her husband's "few good years" in the major leagues.
Benson has worked with charitable organizations over the years such as the Pittsburgh Children's Hospital
Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC
Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, a hospital of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, is the only hospital in southwestern Pennsylvania dedicated solely to the care of infants, children and young adults. Care is provided by more than 700 board-certified pediatricians and pediatric...
, Salvation Army
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
and American Red Cross
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross , also known as the American National Red Cross, is a volunteer-led, humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief and education inside the United States. It is the designated U.S...
. The couple has a non-profit charity called Benson's Battalion that helped area police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
forces in the cities where her husband played.
Radio and publication
Benson has been featured in several publications, including FHMFHM
FHM, originally published as For Him Magazine, is an international monthly men's lifestyle magazine.- History :The magazine began publication in 1985 in the United Kingdom under the name For Him and changed its title to FHM in 1994 when Emap Consumer Media bought the magazine, although the full For...
, Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
, The New Yorker
The New Yorker
The New Yorker is an American magazine of reportage, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons and poetry published by Condé Nast...
and on the cover of The Sporting News
The Sporting News
Sporting News is an American-based sports magazine. It was established in 1886, and it became the dominant American publication covering baseball — so much so that it acquired the nickname "The Bible of Baseball"...
. In New York, she was featured in the New York Post
New York Post
The New York Post is the 13th-oldest newspaper published in the United States and is generally acknowledged as the oldest to have been published continuously as a daily, although – as is the case with most other papers – its publication has been periodically interrupted by labor actions...
Page 6 and Daily News
New York Daily News
The Daily News of New York City is the fourth most widely circulated daily newspaper in the United States with a daily circulation of 605,677, as of November 1, 2011....
. Benson also appeared on the radio during the Dan Patrick Show.
Filmography
| Year | Television | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | The O'Reilly Factor The O'Reilly Factor The O'Reilly Factor, originally titled The O'Reilly Report from 1996 to 1998 and often called The Factor, is an American talk show on the Fox News Channel hosted by commentator Bill O'Reilly, who often discusses current controversial political issues with guests.The program was the most watched... |
Guest |
| 2006 | The Neil Cavuto Show Neil Cavuto Neil Patrick Cavuto is an American television anchor and commentator on the Fox Business Network and host of three television programs, Your World with Neil Cavuto and Cavuto on Business, both on the Fox News Channel and Cavuto on sister channel Fox Business Network.Cavuto also tapes a nightly... |
Guest |
| 2005 | Fabulous Life Of...: Celebrity Wives The Fabulous Life of... The Fabulous Life Of... is a VH1 television series detailing the places, things, and services various celebrities enjoy. It first aired in 2003, with a special about Britney Spears. The show is tightly based on the television show Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous.The show is one of VH1's most... |
Guest |
| 2005 | Best Damn Sports Show Period: Episode The Best Damn Sports Show Period The Best Damn Sports Show Period is an American sports television show on Fox Sports Net and Comcast SportsNet. The show regularly featured irreverent and opinionated interviews with top athletes, coaches, celebrities, and entertainers. It also aired Top 50 countdown shows and other sports... |
Guest |
| 2005 | Donny Deutsch Show The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch was a talk show on CNBC hosted by Donny Deutsch. The show offered success stories that outlined a "roadmap to the American Dream." Every weeknight at 10pm, Donny Deutsch, the CEO of advertising and media business Deutsch Inc., introduced the audience to successful... |
Guest |
| 2004 | My Coolest Years: My First Time My Coolest Years My Coolest Years is a television program that aired on VH1 in which actors, musicians, and other celebrities reminisce about their high school years.-Overview:... |
Guest |
| 2011 | Baseball Wives(VH1 (Network) Baseball Wives Baseball Wives is a reality series. Created by Vh1 and set in Scottsdale, Arizona, the home of baseball's spring training, the show features the wives and girlfriends of talented baseball players from various teams.... |
Talent |
Awards
- Ranked #29 on FHM-U.S.'s 100 Sexiest Women 2006
- Ranked #48 on FHM-U.S.'s 100 Sexiest Women 2005