Verlander elated by Fastball Flakes' impact on veterans

ALLEN PARK, Mich. - He's an All-Star, a Cy Young Award winner, and an MVP.

Yet when it came time to appear on his own box of cereal, Justin Verlander actually struggled with confidence.

"My first thought? 'Oh man, I don't know,'" Verlander said Wednesday. "I didn't know if it was something I'd be big enough for, really."

Months after the first boxes hit shelves of Meijer stores around Michigan, the answer is clear: Justin Verlander is quite the cereal pitchman.

The reigning American League MVP was on hand at Allen Park's Meijer store to hand the Veterans Hospitals of Ann Arbor and Detroit a check for $45,000.

"The cereal, every cent goes to veterans. You can tell he's really genuine about it," 15-year Army veteran James Harris said.

Harris and other veterans lined the aisles of Meijer, meeting their favorite Tigers player, who has made it a priority to give back.

"My cousin, Christopher Verlander, is overseas," Verlander explained. "It's not just the family aspect. I recognize what these men and women do for us here back home, and it's a cause I want to support."

Apprehensive about looking at his own face on a box of cereal, Verlander has seen the results. The Tigers ace is blown away by the reception, and has seen the impact, up close and personal.

"I get messages and tweets all the time from kids eating their breakfast, holding up the box. It ended up being great and I'm happy I did it."