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Taco Bell World Series Stolen Base Free Tacos will not be happening in 2024

Posted on by Kennedy
Taco Bell World Series Stolen Base Free Tacos will not be happening in 2024

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Some baseball fans may have beef with Taco Bell.

According to an MLB spokesperson, Taco Bell is no longer an official sponsor of Major League Baseball, meaning the popular “Steal a Base, Steal a Taco” promotion for the 2024 World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Los Angeles Dodgers is no longer New York Yankees will take place.

Sports Business Journal reported earlier this year that Taco Bell was not on the league's list of sponsors for 2024, ending a partnership that began in 2004.

The 2024 World Series will be the first Fall Classic since 2014 without Taco Bell's “Steal a Base, Steal a Taco” sweepstakes.

What was the promotion anyway? Who won? let us Taco 'bout it:

“Steal a Base, Steal a Taco” story

Taco Bell first offered its first “Steal a Base, Steal a Taco” promotion during the 2007 World Series between the Boston Red Sox and Colorado Rockies. The rules were simple: The first player from either team to successfully steal a base in the World Series would “steal” a free taco that Americans could redeem at Taco Bell locations across the country.

The promotion repeated year after year – 2008, 2012, 2015 and every year since – and the same rules applied, although the rewards and redemptions varied from year to year. For example, in 2015, fans won a free breakfast Crunchwrap instead of a taco. In 2022, participants could guess the “Taco Hero” in the Taco Bell app and win a free medium fountain drink with their taco.

Every “Taco Hero” in World Series history

Every World Series produces a winner, a loser, an MVP and — since Taco Bell introduced its “Steal a Base, Steal a Taco” promotion in 2007 — a “Taco Hero.”

Here's every “taco hero” since the beginning of Taco Bell's tradition:

2023: Ketel Marte, Arizona Diamondbacks

Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte stole first base in Game 1 against the Texas Rangers of the 2023 World Series. Marte stole from Rangers pitcher Nathan Eovaldi in the top of the third inning in the Diamondbacks' 5-6 loss to the Rangers effortlessly reached second base. The Rangers won the series 4-1.

2022: Kyle Schwarber, Philadelphia Phillies

Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Kyle Schwarber stole first base in Game 1 against the Houston Astros in the World Series. He reached first base with an infield single against Astros reliever Bryan Abreu in the top of the seventh inning with the score tied at 5-5. Schwarber, who was suffering from a knee injury at the time, then stole second base and moved into scoring position in the Phillies' 6-5 victory over the Astros.

The Astros won the World Series 4-2.

2021: Ozzie Albies, Atlanta Braves

America won Free Tacos in the 2021 World Series with just three batters. Albies used his speed to hit an infield single early in the first inning of Game 1 against the Houston Astros, then promptly stole second in the Braves' 6-2 win. The Braves won the World Series 4-2.

In honor of the 10th “Taco Hero,” the base stolen by Albies was remembered in Cooperstown.

2020: Mookie Betts, Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers outfielder became the first two-time honoree when he stole second base in the fifth inning of Game 1 in his team's 8-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays in 2020, two years after his steal in the 2018 World Series Free offer triggered.

The Dodgers won the World Series 4-2.

2019: Trea Turner, Washington Nationals

Turner reached base with a single on the second pitch of Game 1 and then immediately stole second to give everyone a free Doritos Locos Taco. The Nationals won 5-4. The Nationals won the series in seven games.

“My mom asked me to win free tacos,” Turner said after the game, jokingly adding, “I didn’t want to get yelled at, so I thought I’d steal the base.”

2018: Mookie Betts, Boston Red Sox

In the bottom of the first inning of Game 1 of the World Series in 2018, Betts led off with a single up the middle and then stole second base on the very next pitch. The Red Sox won Game 1 8-4 and won the World Series in five games.

2017: Cameron Maybin, Houston Astros

Outfielder Maybin hit a single in the 11th inning of Game 2 of the World Series against the Dodgers. He also secured second place with this single in the Astros' 7-6 win. Maybin finally got the go-ahead run when George Springer followed him in extra innings with a home run to right field.

Houston won the Fall Classic in seven games.

2016: Francisco Lindor, Cleveland

The shortstop stole a base in the bottom of the first inning in Cleveland's 6-0 victory over the Chicago Cubs in Game 1 of the World Series at Progressive Field. It even caught the attention of then-President Barack Obama.

The Cubs won the World Series in seven games.

2015: Lorenzo Cain, Kansas City Royals

The Royals outfielder stole second base in the bottom of the sixth inning during his team's 5-4 victory over the New York Mets in Game 1 of the World Series in 2015. However, this year, America received free Taco Bell AM Crunchwraps, in keeping with Taco Bell's “Steal a Base, Steal a Breakfast” promotion. The Royals won the series 4-1.

“Who wants Taco Bell?” Cain said afterward. “It’s up to me.”

2012: Angel Pagan, San Francisco Giants

Pagán stole a base in the eighth inning of the Giants' 2-0 victory over the Detroit Tigers in Game 2 of the World Series at AT&T Park. In addition to winning free tacos in America, Pagan also helped serve them at a Taco Bell location. The Giants defeated the Tigers in the World Series.

2008: Jason Bartlett, Tampa Bay Rays

Bartlett stole second base in the bottom of the fifth inning in the Rays' 3-2 loss to the Phillies in Game 1 of the World Series. The Rays lost the World Series 4-1 to the Phillies.

2007: Jacoby Ellsbury, Boston Red Sox

The Red Sox outfielder became the first “Taco Hero,” stealing second base in Game 2 of the 2007 World Series against the Colorado Rockies. Boston won the game 2-1 and went on to win the Fall Classic.

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