Ford named MLB's official auto partner, a role formerly held by Chevy

Ford Motor Co. on Monday said it has signed a multiyear deal with Major League Baseball to be its official automotive partner, a role previously held by Chevrolet . Chevy and MLB had been partnered since 2005 , though the General Motors Co.

brand has a long history with the league, including the 1970s "Baseball, Hot Dogs, Apple Pie, and Chevrolet" campaign. This will be the first time Ford has become the official automotive partner of the MLB, though it's had deals with several franchises. "For generations, baseball has brought families and communities together and so has Ford,” Lisa Materazzo, Ford’s global chief marketing officer, said in a statement.

“This partnership is about honoring tradition while putting real capability behind the moments that matter for fans, players, and for the communities that keep the game, and the country, moving forward. ” More: Tigers' Kevin McGonigle among Baseball America's top rookies for 2026 Ford, which this year was dubbed "America's most iconic company" by Time magazine, will have a presence across America's pastime, including Opening Day, All-Star Week, MLB at Field of Dreams, the postseason and the World Series. Ford also will serve as the presenting sponsor of MLB’s July 4 initiative as the nation celebrates its 250th anniversary.

The partnership includes rights across Minor League Baseball and Little League Baseball and Softball, including the Little League World Series. “Ford and MLB are both American heritage brands that continue to innovate in their industries and strengthen their popularity and relevance decade after decade,” Uzma Rawn Dowler, MLB chief marketing officer and vice president of global corporate partnerships, said in a statement. “We love the creative marketing energy that Ford plans to bring to MLB, while the national scale of our content is sure to drive even greater consideration and fan engagement for our new partner.