Why there won't be free tacos at the 2024 World Series: Taco Bell cancels “Steal a Base, Steal a Taco” promotion

There are many ways to etch a player's name into history. You could break records, win the big game, or be elected to a sport's Hall of Fame.

Over the last decade, MLB players have also been able to achieve immortality by winning free tacos for all. In every World Series since 2015, Taco Bell had offered free tacos as a reward for the first player to steal the base.

Taco Bell's “Steal a Base, Steal a Taco” campaign began in 2007 and initially ran for two years. After a lengthy absence (interrupted by a year-long revival in 2012), the promotion returned for an extended period starting in 2015.

But now, in 2024, there is a break again. Jazz Chisholm Jr.'s stolen base for the Yankees in Game 1 of the World Series left fans taco-less.

Here's why baseball fans won't be enjoying free tacos at this year's Fall Classic between the Yankees and Dodgers.

SN's MLB Headquarters: Live MLB Scores | Updated MLB Rankings | Complete MLB schedule

What happened to free tacos during the World Series?

Taco Bell is no longer an official MLB sponsor, so the “Steal a Base, Steal a Taco” promotion has been discontinued. Taco Bell was not listed as an MLB sponsor at the start of the season, and to date nothing has changed to reintroduce the popular campaign ahead of the World Series.

The campaign returned in 2012 and then, after two hiatuses, in 2015. Therefore, it is not impossible that the “Steal a Base, Steal a Taco” promotion could return at some point in the future.

Taco Bell used to steal base players

The good news for fans over the last nine years has been that it never took long for promotion to be cashed in. Taco Bell has run the campaign 12 times. and it hit every time.

The “Steal a Base, Steal a Taco” action scored nine of 12 World Series chances in Game 1 — and 2024 would have made it 10 thanks to Chisholm’s hit in the sixth inning on Friday. The other three times the promotion came in Game 2.

Here are the players who won free tacos for fans during the World Series:

• 2023: Ketel Marte, Diamondbacks (Lost World Series)
• 2022: Kyle Schwarber, Phillies (Lost World Series)
• 2021: Ozzie Albies, Braves (World Series winner)
• 2020: Mookie Betts, Dodgers (World Series winner)
• 2019: Trea Turner, Nationals (World Series winner)
• 2018: Mookie Betts, Red Sox (World Series winner)
• 2017: Cameron Maybin, Astros (World Series winner)
• 2016: Francisco Lindor, Cleveland (Lost World Series)
• 2015: Lorenzo Cain, Royals (World Series winner)
• 2012: Angel Pagan, Giants (World Series winner)
• 2008: Jason Bartlett, Rays (Lost World Series)
• 2007: Jacoby Ellsbury, Red Sox (World Series winner)