Some people watch the World Series to — y’know — find out which Major League Baseball team is going to be the champs. But if you’re like me, you watch to see if a free Doritos Locos Taco is headed your way through the Taco Bell “Steal a Base, Steal a Taco” offer. Unfortunately, that isn't the case in 2024.
After over a decade of freebies, this promo isn't returning for the 2024 World Series. The “Steal a Base, Steal a Taco” promotion was on its twelfth run in 2023, and while it changed throughout the years, the freebie was always the same — a free Taco Bell taco. So what happened? Can you expect this deal to return? I'll do my best to answer your questions below. Though this freebie isn't happening this year, check out all the Taco Bell coupons you can grab today.
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Taco Bell is no longer a sponsor of the MLB — which means we no longer get free tacos.
Since 2007, Taco Bell's “Steal a Base, Steal a Taco” has been an added bonus to the excitement of the World Series. There have been a total of 12 stolen-base freebies since the beginning, and we've seen successful attempts (and free tacos) in Game 1 for the past nine consecutive years.
This year's missing tacos aren't due to no stolen bases. In fact, we've already seen a stolen base in this year's championship between the Dodgers and the Yankees — but sadly, no free taco reward. It's because Taco Bell is no longer on the sponsorship roster with the MLB.
There were several years in the past (2009 - 2010 and 2013 - 2014) where the promotion wasn't offered, only to return later. So to be perfectly honest, this promo could return after a brief hiatus.
Steal a Base, Steal a Taco meant free tacos the first time a player stole a base in the World Series.
During the annual Major League Baseball championship, the World Series, Taco Bell had consistently offered a free taco to customers the first time a player stole a base. Stealing a base, by the way, involves a player sneaking past the catcher to get to the next base while the pitcher is distracted.
Once the base was stolen, Taco Bell announced the date of the Steal a Taco freebie, and then members of the free Taco Bell Rewards program got a digital coupon sent to them in the app. The coupon was good for 10 days once you got it. (The freebie wasn’t always guaranteed — as there could be no bases stolen in a World Series — but it was very likely that a base would be stolen.)
Fans could claim their freebie through the Taco Bell app.
Every year during the World Series, as soon as a player stole a base, Taco Bell gave away free Nacho Cheese Doritos Locos Tacos (the promotion was only triggered the first time this happens). These tacos normally cost $2.49.
The last time it happened was in the third inning on night one of the World Series on Friday, Oct. 27, 2023. Diamondbacks player Ketel Marte stole a base, meaning everyone could get a free taco in the Taco Bell app. You had 10 days to redeem your free taco, which meant you had until Monday, Nov. 6, 2023, to pick up your freebie.
For those of you who aren’t baseball fans, stealing a base happens when a runner who’s on one of the bases decides to run to the next base (or even home plate) between hits. It’s risky, because if the runner is tagged with the ball before getting to a base, he’s out.
The Steal a Base, Steal a Taco reward was valid for members of the free Taco Bell Rewards program.
Just like last year, the only way to receive this reward was by being a part of the free Taco Bell Rewards program. In the past, all you had to do to receive the freebie was head to your local Taco Bell and ask for the free taco, but that’s not the case anymore.
Only members of the Rewards program were eligible, and once a player has stolen a base, the reward showed up on the “Rewards” section on the app.
KCL TIP: The Taco Bell Rewards program is totally free to sign up, and there are lots more reasons why you should join — and lots more opportunities for free Taco Bell.
If you correctly guessed which player will steal the first base, you also won a free medium drink.
If you guessed the “Taco Hero” correctly — Ketel Marte — your freebie was upgraded to include a free medium drink (regularly $2.39) of your choice.
You had until the night before Game 1 (Oct. 27, 2023, at 8:03 p.m.) to submit your prediction via the Taco Bell app.
Will this free taco promo ever return?
In short, I'm not sure. If I had to guess, it won't return until (and if) Taco Bell ever becomes a sponsor of the MLB again. I don't think we'll see this deal return for a while — likely 2026 at the earliest based on the history of the offer. But for now, here are all the current Taco Bell offers and coupons to help you save money on your faves year-round.
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