Turley was signed as an amateur free agent by the St. Louis Browns in 1948. He played his first game on September 29, 1951 for the Browns and moved with them to Baltimore in 1954. He was traded to the New York Yankees after the 1954 season and played for the Yankees from 1955 to 1962. After beginning the year 1963 with the Los Angeles Angels, he finished the year, and his career, with the Boston Red Sox. He wore uniform number 24 on the Browns, 33 when they moved to Baltimore as the Orioles, 19 on the Yankees, 39 on the Angels, and 29 on the Red Sox.