Steal a Base, Steal a Taco World Series Promotion

I've revealed before in my posts that I'm a big Boston Red Sox fan and I'm just thrilled that they finally won their division this year and now have made it to the World Series! They got off to an overpowering start last night beating the Colorado Rockies 13-1. Josh Beckett pitched a fantastic game allowing only 6 hits in seven innings with 9 strike-outs and just one walk. Dustin Pedroia was first up for the Red Sox and became only the second player ever to lead off a Series with a home run. And of course Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz kept the hits coming all night.

However, what we didn't have in last night's game was a stolen base. In this year's Taco Bell World Series promotion they will be giving away free tacos for America if any player steals a base throughout the Series. "Steal a Base, Steal a Taco" is the latest "Think Outside the Bun" promotion the company has launched in partnership with Major League Baseball. Taco Bell is the Official Quick Service Restaurant of MLB. In previous promotions they placed their famous "Free Taco" target at the 2002, 2003 and 2004 World Series in hopes to give away free tacos.

"Fans across the country will have the opportunity to be a part of the World Series experience through the "Steal a Base, Steal a Taco" promotion," said John Brody, Senior Vice President, Corporate Sales and Marketing, Major League Baseball.  "The extension of the "Think Outside the Bun" philosophy is a creative way to engage Major League Baseball fans in all the action of the 2007 Fall Classic."

The Official Rules state that if a base is stolen during regulation or extra innings play by any player for either team in the 2007 MLB World Series, Taco Bell will offer every person in the U.S. the opportunity to obtain one free Crunchy Seasoned Beef Taco. If the first stolen base occurs during Game 1 (which it didn't) or Game 2, America will get its free Crunchy Seasoned Beef Taco on Tuesday, Oct. 30 from 2 - 5  p.m. local time at all participating Taco Bell locations. If the first base is stolen in Game 3 through Game 7, America can redeem their taco on Tuesday, Nov. 6 from 2 - 5 p.m. local time.

Between both teams, they had 196 stolen bases this past season; so they should average more than 1 per game (although again none last night, but with that difference, what would it have mattered?).  Also, consumers have only a three hour time period on a specific date to get their free taco, so the actual redemption rate will not be huge. It will be interesting to learn how many tacos Taco Bell actually does give away.

So, mark Oct. 30th and Nov. 6th from 2-5pm on your calendars to get your free taco. After tonight's game we'll know which date will be the actual one. In fact, I promise to send out a reminder on either day. Let's raise the promotion's redemption rate. In the meantime, let's go Red Sox!