The Poll-Parrot Premiums were made to re-create the days when a ball-player seemed to always accompany something. With cards representing the best of the “Late 50’s” player selection was based on “the buzz” at the time. Only the BEST images are used here. I wanted a very colorful image against the wooden borders reminiscent of the advertising theme of the day. Poll-Parrot Shoes was nose-to-nose with Kid’s Shoe giant Buster Brown throughout their tenure. Poll-Parrot used whistles, spinner hats, decoder pens with “Safe Summer” or “Back-to-School” messages…literally dozens of gimmicks. I thought “what if they had gone “all-in” and signed a few ballplayers to put their faces next to their shoes?” The distribution would likely come wrapped in wax or cellophane and stuffed in the box of new shoes to urge kids to say “I want Polls” rather than “Buster Brown”….we had to wear SOMETHING!

For me, if I thought I had a chance—the slightest chance— that Mickey Mantle or Willie Mays was in my box—I’d be a LEGEND on the block! It would’ve been no contest. This is likely the most visually appealing “set” I’ve done to date. It gave me the freedom to be unafraid it would look too new nor too drab. They’re on metallic paper that was so often experimented with in advertising displays smack-dab in the middle of era we’re working with. Perfect!

This set is in our generational sweet spot. The facsimile autographs are in period as is all the artwork. Enjoy!

CHECKLIST-NEW CARDS EVERY MONTH.