Top 15 Athletes To Appear On a Box of Wheaties

By Amanda Sklarek

Top 15 Athletes To Appear On a Box of Wheaties

Shaquille O'Neal — When Wheaties hit store shelves in 1924, who would have thought that it would be the breakfast icon that is today? Decades after its accidental creation, Wheaties has featured hundreds of athletes on the cover of their box. "The breakfast of champions" is a fitting slogan when you look back at all the talented athletes who have appeared on the bright, orange box.

Note: The following athletes appeared on Wheaties boxes in different forms.

15. Babe Ruth

Babe Ruth

15. Babe Ruth

Babe Ruth — Babe Ruth was an American icon in the early 1990s, but he wasn't featured on a box of Wheaties until 1992. Arguably one of the greatest baseball players of all time, Ruth's Wheaties debut was well overdue.

14. Bruce Jenner

Bruce Jenner

14. Bruce Jenner

Young Bruce Jenner — This once greatly admired Olympian appeared on Wheaties boxes in 1977 and 2012. Now, Bruce Jenner is known by millennials as the guy who was unfortunately married to Kris Kardashian for 22 years.

13. Tiger Woods

Tiger Woods

13. Tiger Woods

Tiger Woods — Tiger Woods has had his share of controversies as well as his ups and downs on the golf course, but he is still one of the most successful golfers of all time. Woods has appeared on Wheaties boxes 14 different times.

12. Walter Payton

Walter Payton

12. Walter Payton

Walter Payton Wheaties — In 1986, Walter Payton of the Chicago Bears would be the first football player to grace the front of a Wheaties box. Payton is known for being one of the most inventive running backs to ever play the game.

11. Mary Lou Retton

Mary Lou Retton

11. Mary Lou Retton

Mary Lou Retton olympics — "America's Sweetheart" was the first female athlete to be featured on the front of a Wheaties box. Retton has won five Olympic medals and is currently a member of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.

10. 1987 Minnesota Twins

Minnesota Twins

10. 1987 Minnesota Twins

Minnesota Twins World Series — When the Minnesota Twins won the World Series in 1987, their image was proudly displayed in cereal isles all over the country. The Twins were the first team to appear on the front of a Wheaties box.

9. Babe Didrikson Zaharias

Babe Didrikson Zaharias

9. Babe Didrikson Zaharias

Babe Didrikson Zaharias — Babe Didrikson Zaharias was a phenomenal athlete. Didrikson played golf, basketball, and track and field. She was also one of the founding members of the LPGA and was the first female athlete depicted on a box of Wheaties.

8. Bob Richards

Bob Richards

8. Bob Richards

Bob Richards — In 1958, Bob Richards would appear on the front of a Wheaties box. The "Vaulting Vicar" competed with three U.S. Olympic teams in two different events over the course of his career.

7. Jerry Rice

Jerry Rice

7. Jerry Rice

Jerry Rice — Jerry Rice is the greatest football player to ever step foot on a field. He was featured on a box of Wheaties in 2000 during his final year with the San Francisco 49ers.

6. Jim Thorpe

Jim Thorpe

6. Jim Thorpe

Jim Thorpe Wheaties — Jim Thorpe could literally do it all. The versatile athlete played baseball, football and basketball. Thorpe also competed in the decathlon and pentathlon, as well as the long jump and high jump in the Olympics. He rightfully earned his spot on a box of Wheaties in 2001.

5. Wayne Gretzky

Wayne Gretzky

5. Wayne Gretzky

Wayne Gretzky — "The Great One" was featured on Wheaties boxes in 2003. I guess that's what happens when you are the greatest ice hockey player of all time.

4. Lou Gehrig

Lou Gehrig

4. Lou Gehrig

Lou Gehrig — The late Lou Gehrig was the first athlete to appear on a Wheaties box. He would later make another appearance on store shelves in 1992.

3. 1980 USA Men's Ice Hockey Team

Miracle on Ice

3. 1980 USA Men's Ice Hockey Team

USA ice hockey — After the "Miracle on Ice" took place, it was only a matter of time before the USA Men's Ice Hockey team would be featured on cereal boxes all over America.

2. Muhammad Ali

Muhammad Ali

2. Muhammad Ali

Muhammad Ali — Muhammad Ali has materialized on Wheaties boxes numerous times. Ali is considered to be the greatest heavyweight boxer in sports history.

1. Michael Jordan

Michael Jordan

1. Michael Jordan

Michael Jordan — The six-time NBA Champion has appeared on the front of Wheaties boxes 18 times, which is currently the record for most appearances. Michael Jordan was first featured on boxes in 1988.

Amanda Sklarek is a lead NHL writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow her on Twitter @amandabukowski, “Like” her on Facebook or add her to your network on Google.

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