Who eats the Breakfast of Champions? Quiz

Answer: Lou Gehrig

1934 was also a successful year for Lou Gehrig (1903-1941) on the field as he won the MLB Triple Crown with a .363 batting average, 49 home runs, and 165 runs batted in. Gehrig played his entire MLB career (1923-1939) for the New York Yankees, primarily as a first baseman. He was the American League MVP in 1927 and 1936 and part of six World Series-winning teams. Lou Gehrig is perhaps best known for appearing in 2,130 consecutive games during his career. Lou Gehrig would appear again on a Wheaties box in 1992.

NBA star George Mikan appeared in 1952. NFL star Benny Friedman appeared in 1935. Amazingly, Jesse Owens, who won fame in the 1936 Olympics, did not appear on the Wheaties box until 2003.

Answer: Elinor Smith

Elinor Smith (1911-2010) was an early aviator who rode on her first flight at the age of eight and began training to become a pilot at ten. Earning her pilot's license when she was 16, she was known as the "Flying Flapper of Freeport". During her career she held several records at various times including speed, endurance, and altitude. She also worked as a test pilot for various companies.

Olympic gold medalist and LPGA legend Babe Didrikson Zaharias appeared in 1935. Speed skater Kit Klein appeared in 1936. Swimmer Esther Williams appeared in 1959.

Answer: Bob Richards

Bob Richards (born 1926) represented the United States in the Olympics in the pole vault, winning the bronze in London (1948) and the gold in Helsinki (1952) and Melbourne (1956). He would become the first athlete to appear on the front of the Wheaties box--earlier athletes had appeared on other parts of the box. He would later become one of the early participants in Masters Athletics.

NFL quarterback Otto Graham appeared on the Wheaties box in 1951 but not on the front. The same is true of MLB star Roy Campanella who appeared in 1952. Muhammad Ali did appear on the front of the Wheaties box twice, but in 1999 and 2012.

Answer: Bart Starr

Bart Starr (born 1934) appeared on the front of the Wheaties box in 1964. A Hall of Fame quarterback, he played his entire career for the Green Bay Packers (1956-1971). He passed for 152 touchdowns and almost 25,000 yards in his career and led the Packers to victories in Super Bowls I and II as well as NFL championships in 1961, 1962, and 1965. He was later the head coach of the team (1975-1983), as which his level of success was more modest.

Jesse Owens won fame because of his track and field accomplishments in the 1936 Summer Olympics. Mary Lou Retton became famous because of her gymnastic accomplishments in the 1984 Summer Olympics. Apolo Anton Ohno won fame because of his speed skating accomplishments at the 2006 Winter Olympics.

Answer: Michael Jordan

Michael Jordan's (born 1963) first appearance on a Wheaties box occurred in 1988. Best known for his Hall of Fame career with the Chicago Bulls (1984-1993, 1995-1998), Michael Jordan also played for the Washington Wizards (2001-2003). He won six NBA championships--all with the Bulls. Michael Jordan was a 14-time NBA All-Star and five-time NBA MVP. He scored almost 33,000 points in his career.

NFL Hall of Famer Troy Aikman appeared in 1996 and 1999. MLB Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr., appeared in 1995 and 2001. Cyclist Lance Armstrong appeared in 1999.

Answer: Mary Lou Retton

Mary Lou Retton (born 1968) appeared on the front of the Wheaties box in 1984. She won a gold medal for the all-around individual performance in Women's Gymnastics in the 1984 Summer Olympics (in Los Angeles) as well as two silver medals and two bronze medals. After her retirement from competitive gymnastics Mary Lou Retton frequently served as a commentator for gymnastic competitions.

Golfer Babe Didrikson Zaharias appeared in 1935, but not on the front of the box. Tennis player Chris Evert appeared in 1987. Figure skater Peggy Fleming appeared on a box of Kellogg's Bran Flakes in 1991.

Answer: Walter Payton

Walter Payton, who had the nickname "Sweetness", (1954-1999) appeared on the Wheaties box in 1986 and 2000. He spent his entire NFL career (1975-1987) with the Chicago Bears where he was a running back. Running for nearly 17,000 yards, he scored 110 rushing touchdowns. He was selected for nine Pro Bowls and was a member of the Chicago Bears team that won Super Bowl XX.

Detroit Lion Barry Sanders appeared in 1992 and 1999. Buffalo Bill Jim Kelly appeared in 1987. Cincinnati Bengal Boomer Esiason appeared in 1990.

Answer: Lee Trevino

Lee Trevino (born 1939) appeared on the front of the box in 1969. In his career, he won the US Open (1968 and 1971), the British Open (1971, 1972), and the PGA Championship (1974, 1984) as part of his 29 PGA tour wins. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1981.

Arnold Palmer appeared on a Wheaties box in 1999. While Tiger Woods has appeared on multiple different Wheaties boxes, his first was not until 1997. Jack Nicklaus appeared in 2003.

Answer: Wilbur Shaw

Auto racer Wilbur Shaw (1902-1954) appeared on a Wheaties box in 1936. He won the Indianapolis 500 in 1937, 1939, and 1940. His efforts were in part responsible for reviving the Indianapolis 500 as a significant auto race after World War Two.

Richard Petty appeared on the Wheaties box in 1998. Bill Elliot appeared on Wheaties boxes in 1999, 2000, and 2001. A. J. Foyt appeared on the Wheaties box in 2002.

Answer: Amy Van Dyken

Amy Van Dyken (born 1973) won gold medals in the 1996 Summer Olympics (Atlanta) for the women's 50 meter freestyle, 100 meter butterfly, 4x100 freestyle, and 4x100 medley. She also won gold medals in the last two events at the 2000 Summer Olympics (Sydney). After her retirement, she pursued various endeavors, including as a sports talk radio host.

The US Women's gymnastics team, including Dominique Dawes, Kerri Strug, and Shannon Miller, appeared on a special team edition box.