Blue Ribbon

The Blue Ribbon, manufactured by Bally in December 1965, is a four-player electro-mechanical game designed by Ted Zale, with a confirmed production run of 875 units. Zale was one of Bally's most inventive designers of the 1960s, and Blue Ribbon is a characteristic example of the company's mid-decade output.

Key gameplay features include two flippers and an array of bumpers — three pop bumpers and eight mushroom bumpers, the latter a signature element of Zale's Bally designs — which contribute to the game's fast-paced action.

The Pageantry theme lends the machine a festive air. An interesting production note: early machines had their coin slots on the lockdown bar as shown in the flyer, while later production games came with a triple-chute coin door, which required a deeper cabinet to accommodate it. The Blue Ribbon remains a beloved relic of pinball's electro-mechanical era, offering a glimpse into the evolution of the game.