early 20th century, and many athletes who were too early for Wheaties to cover (see Jim Thorpe). Decline in sales Recently, sales of Wheaties in the US has declined significantly. From 2005 to 2014 sales of Wheaties declined 78%. Wheaties firsts and records 1926 – First ever singing radio commercial, using the jingle "Have you tried Wheaties?" (to the tune of Jazz Baby) 1934 – First athlete depicted on a Wheaties box – Baseball player Lou Gehrig 1934 – First woman depicted on a Wheaties box – Aviator Elinor Smith 1935 – First woman athlete depicted on a Wheaties box – Golfer and athlete Babe Didrikson Zaharias 1936 – First African American athlete on a Wheaties box – Jesse Owens 1939 – First televised commercial sports broadcast sponsorship, of the 1939 Major League Baseball All-Star Game 1958 – First athlete depicted on the front of a Wheaties box – Pole vaulter Bob Richards 1969 – First male golfer depicted on the front of a Wheaties box – Lee Trevino 1984 – First woman athlete depicted on the front of a Wheaties box – Gymnast Mary Lou Retton 1984 – First high school athlete depicted on the front of a Wheaties box – Chris Spielman 1986 – First NFL player depicted on the front of a Wheaties box – Walter Payton 1988 – First cyclist depicted on the front of a Wheaties box – Doug Smith 1987 – First team depicted on a Wheaties box – 1987 World Series Champion Minnesota Twins 1991 – First ice hockey team depicted on a Wheaties box – 1991 Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins 1992 – First non-orange Wheaties box, colored red and black in honor of the Chicago Bulls 1997 – First automobile race driver depicted on the front of a Wheaties box – Dale Earnhardt 1999 – First professional wrestler depicted on the front of a Wheaties box – Stone Cold Steve Austin 2001 – First sambo wrestler featured on Wheaties boxes (Wheaties Energy Crunch) – James Chico Hernandez 2002 – First university wrestler featured on Wheaties boxes – Cael Sanderson 2005 – First women professional sports team to appear on Wheaties box – Sacramento Monarchs 2006 – First college football rivalry to appear on Wheaties box – State Farm Lone Star Showdown, the rivalry between the Texas A&M Aggies and the Texas Longhorns 2012 – 9-year-old Samantha Gordon is the first female