Historic 13th Grand Slam victory earns Sampras coveted spot on orange box

Wheaties today unveiled a special-edition package commemorating the record-setting 13th Grand Slam title earned by Pete Sampras Sunday at the All England Club. Combined with his four U.S. Open and two Australian Open titles, Sampras' seventh career Wimbledon victory gives him the most Grand Slam titles in history.

"Someday, I'll be able to look back at the year 2000 and say that I won my 13th Grand Slam title," the 28-year-old Sampras said. "It's a great feeling to join the likes of Michael Jordan and Muhammad Ali, and all of the other great athletes who have been on the Wheaties box."

Sampras becomes the first active tennis player to appear on the storied Wheaties package front since Chris Evert graced the package in 1987. Former tennis great Arthur Ashe appeared on a commemorative package posthumously in 1997. Ellsworth Vines became one of the first athletes to appear on the Wheaties box when the tennis champ was pictured on the package in 1934, and then again in 1939. Don Budge (1939), Alice Marble (1946) and Jack Kramer (1952) are other notable tennis players who have been featured on the fabled orange box.

"Pete Sampras truly exemplifies the ideals of the Wheaties champion," said Wheaties Marketing Manager Brian Immel. "This new package is a fitting tribute to his incredible career."
The special-edition 12-ounce Wheaties package will be available nationally beginning in the next several weeks.

Wheaties, the venerable "Breakfast of Champions," began its association with sports in the mid 1930s with a sign on the left field wall at old Nicollet Park in south Minneapolis. General Mills' broadcast deal with the minor league Minneapolis Millers included the large signboard that Wheaties would use to introduce its new advertising slogan: "Wheaties--The Breakfast of Champions." From that rather humble beginning, Wheaties' has built a heritage that includes many of the greatest athletes of all time.

The popular cereal flake in the orange box was discovered somewhat by accident in 1921 when a health clinician spilled a gruel mixture onto a hot stove, creating a crisp, toasted flake. He offered the new product idea to the Washburn Crosby Company, the predecessor of General Mills. The resulting hearty flakes were introduced in 1924 bearing the name "Washburn's Gold Medal Whole Wheat Flakes." As the result of an employee contest to rename the product, the name was shortened to "Wheaties" in 1925. In addition to whole-grain Wheaties, other members of the Wheaties family include Frosted Wheaties and Wheaties Raisin Bran.