In the bustling world of New York City, inspiration lurks in every corner. Whether it’s the vibrant street art that gives color to concrete walls or the hidden gems tucked away in quiet cafés, the city brims with creative possibility. For Phil Imbriano, a senior designer at Topps, a routine subway ride transformed into an unforeseen muse, birthing the sleek new look of Topps’ 2025 Series 1 baseball cards.
Picture this: a tired commuter squashed amongst the masses, headphones in place, as the rhythmic clattering of tracks lulls them into contemplation. It’s in these mundane moments that brilliance occasionally strikes. Imbriano was one such fortunate daydreamer, his eyes catching on the modest charm of a red-and-silver badge tacked to the corner of the subway car. The design—a simple dance of sleek lines and curves—spoke to him, whispering winds of inspiration. Who’d have thought that the typical rush-hour crush could ignite the spark for a sports card sundae?
Armed with his smartphone, Imbriano captured the moment. Once he arrived at his desk, he emptied the reservoir of creative ideas waiting to burst out. Sketch after sketch lined the path to what now stands as the official base design for Topps Series 1 in 2025.
“I love drawing inspiration from everyday things,” Imbriano shares with contagious enthusiasm. “It could be a building, a sign—anything that catches my eye. I take pictures and refer back to them later. You never know when something simple will turn into something big.”
Just imagine, a card winking at the past while flirting with the future. The design features two dynamic lines that swoosh up the left side and vault across the top of the card—a stylistic hat-tip to the 1982 Topps set. But unlike the cards of yesteryear, each line is tinged with hues that match each team, uniting tradition with modern-day pizzazz.
Interestingly, this nod to the ’82 set wasn’t part of some grand plan. In fact, Imbriano initially sought inspiration from the woodgrain warmth of the 1962 and 1987 sets. “The ’82 connection was a happy accident,” he chuckles. “But I think it works because it melds old-school flair with contemporary cool.”
The choice of this design was no stroke of luck; it emerged victorious from a highly competitive in-house tournament. With Topps’ artists unleashing a torrential flood of ideas, every concept was scrutinized through several rounds of rigorous review. Imbriano’s creation prevailed amongst 20 contenders, a testament to its timeless yet trailblazing essence. Interestingly, discarded design elements rarely go to waste. Case in point: this year’s cards feature a small field graphic marking the player’s position, a borrowed treasure from past submissions.
From the initial subway photo to the polished final product, Imbriano rode a carousel of creativity, conjuring up about ten iterations of the design before landing on the completed form. “There’s so much that goes into this process,” he sighs. “I don’t think most people realize how much work happens before they ever hold the card in their hands.”
Once Topps finalized the digital blueprints, the tangible transformation began. Enter the hands-on stage, led by Clay Luraschi, Topps’ senior vice president of product. Physical prototypes were printed, each subjected to a rigorous evaluation of both look and feel. Even simulated pack-opening ceremonies were reenacted to bestow a seal of approval, marking the birth of yet another iconic Topps edition.
“When we’re down to the final five designs, we actually print them out and simulate opening a pack,” Luraschi reveals. “It’s a long, competitive process, and one of the most heated debates we have in the office all year.”
Yet, the base cards are merely the gateway to Topps’ treasure trove. The 2025 series features beloved subsets like Future Stars, All-Topps Team, and Training Grounds, spotlighting spring training’s shining moments. There’s also Call to the Hall, a nod to Hall of Fame inductees, along with the City Connect Swatch Collection Autographs and the whimsical Heavy Lumber Autographs.
Additionally, fan-favorite “Signature Tunes” makes a return, uniting athletes with the musicians behind their walk-up tracks. And let’s not forget First Pitch, a celeb-fueled homage to last season’s ceremonial first tosses.
For Dodgers devotees, the collection gifts special base-card variations capturing jubilant moments, including the quirky Freddie Dance—a hip-swaying spectacle from Freddie Freeman upon reaching base.
In celebration of Topps’ storied past, a 35th-anniversary estrade pays tribute to the bold, neon-hued designs of the 1990 Topps set. But the heart of this ensemble undoubtedly beats with Imbriano’s visionary base design.
“I approach designing cards like I would a movie poster,” Imbriano muses. “Each card should stand out on its own, akin to a mini poster in a collector’s hands.”
Luraschi concurs enthusiastically, “Phil’s design is a triumph. Decades from now, someone ought to glance at a card and instantly recall its year of origin. This one accomplishes precisely that.” With baseball magic interwoven into each card, what began as a serendipitous subway moment now culminates in a masterpiece of design and nostalgia, ready to sweep sports fans off their feet—even if they aren’t catching a train.
