The Detroit Free Press reports that James Hartzell, creator of “Baseball, Hot Dogs, Apple Pie, and Chevrolet” (below), which Car and Driver deemed the best car commercial ever in 2005, died from congestive heart failure over the weekend at the age of 78.

Hartzell was behind many campaigns but this Americana-themed spot, which he created in 1974 while at Campbell Ewald, is arguably his most memorable. Hartzell spent 27 years at C-E before retiring from his dual role of copywriter/VP in 1987. Jalopnik meanwhile offers a nice piece on why we’ll never see another ad like “Baseball, Hot Dogs…” again.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_Y-2vlOegI&feature=player_embedded]