Introduction
Mr. Turkey was a brand of baseball cards produced from 1969 to 1971 by Ballard & Lash, a confectionery company based in Tacoma, Washington. Packaged with candy and distributed mainly on the West Coast of the United States, Mr. Turkey cards provided an alternative to the traditional Topps and Fleer baseball card sets of the time in an era when the hobby was really taking off nationwide. Though modestly produced and distributed compared to the larger brands, Mr. Turkey cards have developed a cult following among vintage baseball card collectors due to their unique design aesthetic and regional rarity.
History and Production
Ballard & Lash was founded in 1928 and originally specialized in the production of penny candies. Seeking to expand their product offerings in the late 1960s, company executives decided to venture into the baseball card market as a promotion tied to their candy products. From 1969-1971 they produced three series of Mr. Turkey cards totaling 420 unique baseball cards over the three years.
The cards featured players from both the American and National Leagues and measured 2.5 inches by 3.5 inches, somewhat smaller than the standard card sizes of Topps and Fleer at the time. They were printed on thinner stock than the heavier glossy cardboard used by the majors brands. Each pack of Mr. Turkey cards came shrink wrapped with a small box of Ballard & Lash candy like chocolate peanuts or butterscotch disks. Distribution was focused mainly in Washington, Oregon, Northern California, Idaho and western Montana.
Card Design and Player Selection
Mr. Turkey cards had a distinctive regional Pacific Northwest design aesthetic. Illustrations featured mountains, evergreen trees and beaches alongside player portraits. Biographical information emphasized hometowns and included blurbs about players’ hobbies and non-baseball careers. Standout rookies and rising stars were well represented alongside established veterans.
Key design elements included a turkey logo watermark, orange and green color palette, and a vintage “Old Tyme Baseball” theme. The backs of the cards contained no stats, just illustrations and more personal details on players. This approachable storytelling style is part of what gives the Mr. Turkey sets their charm and separated them from the stats-heavy Topps and Fleer models.
Rarity and Collectability
With their limited three-year run and regional distribution confined mainly to the Pacific Northwest, Mr. Turkey cards have achieved rarity status compared to the larger national brands. In near-mint condition, common player cards can fetch $10-25 while stars can range from $50-200 depending on year and condition. Their collectability has grown since the 1970s as more vintage enthusiasts seek to complete regional and obscure sets.
The 1969 and 1970 series are the most widely available while the very last 1971 issue is particularly scarce. Low print runs mean finding high-grade examples of popular hometown stars is challenging. Supposedly only a few thousand Mr. Turkey packs were produced annually during their brief run. Surviving unopened packs have sold at auction for over $1,000 when they surface.
Legacy and End of Production
Despite their novelty and following among West Coast collectors, Mr. Turkey cards did not achieve the national distribution needed to compete directly with established brands. Ballard & Lash decided to end production after the 1971 series, perhaps due to lagging sales away from their regional markets. The annual runs were simply too small to break into the national youth demographic driving baseball card collecting at the time.
Though short-lived, Mr. Turkey cards remain a treasured connection to the regional pastimes and personalities that once defined minor league and amateur baseball. Their intimate storytelling approach through bright regional illustrations and biographical side notes set them apart from plain baseball card stats. Nearly 50 years later, their charm continues to attract collectors seeking relatively affordable vintage cardboard from a more localized era before national mass media took over American popular culture.
In Summary
Lasting only from 1969 to 1971, Mr. Turkey baseball cards from Ballard & Lash have developed a devoted if modest following among vintage collectors. Their regional designs and limited production runs on the West Coast make completed high-grade sets quite rare compared to larger national brands from the same period. Though unable to achieve nationwide success during their brief run decades ago, Mr. Turkey cards still evoke nostalgia for localized baseball traditions and the human side of the national pastime.
