Inspiration often strikes when we least expect it, even during the seemingly mundane daily commute. For Phil Imbriano, senior designer at Topps, this mundane moment turned into a burst of creativity that shaped the future of one of the most cherished collectibles in the sporting world. As he rode the New York City subway, en route to Topps’ headquarters, his eyes fell upon a red-and-silver badge in the corner of the train car. Its clean lines and soft curves ignited a spark of creativity. Within moments, Phil was absorbed in capturing this moment with a photo and was mentally transported to his design table even before he disembarked at his stop.
That serendipitous subway moment evolved into the captivating base design for the 2025 Topps Series 1 baseball cards, launching today to the eager hands of collectors worldwide.
“I adore finding inspiration in the everyday,” Imbriano enthused. “Be it the architectural design of a building or an artistic ad poster, something as simple as a subway badge can grow into something substantial.” His words echo the sentiments of artists who perceive the extraordinary in the ordinary. For him, the convergence of chance and creativity is continuous, with each urban detail potentially transforming into imaginative distinction. His astute observation materialized into a design featuring two bold lines swooping emphatically up the card’s left side and grazing across its top—a stylistic homage, perhaps unconsciously, to Topps’ classic 1982 set. However, these lines now boast a fresh uniqueness, personalized to mirror the colors of each featured team.
Little did Phil know, his design effort married past aesthetics with modern artistic instincts. Initially, he drew from the retro woodgrain looks of the 1962 and 1987 collections, resulting in a charming but unpredicted 1982 reference. “It’s as if the ’82 link happened by happy accident,” he mused. “But its fusion of vintage and contemporary flair is delightful and resonant among fans.”
This brilliant concept emerged victorious from a stringent, competitive process within Topps’ creative ranks. Here, designs face an array of challenges, each one advancing through multiple review rounds. Phil’s concept outshone 20 competing entries. In these trials, non-selected elements often receive second chances, making appearances in subsequent collections. In this iteration, a subtly placed field graphic in the bottom right enhances player detailing—another Imbriano innovation.
From that offbeat subway epiphany to the tangible card design, Phil concocted nearly a dozen versions before achieving perfection. “People likely underestimate the extensive creative labor required before these cards reach their hands,” he reflected with a smile.
To excel in bringing these cards from abstract concept to striking reality, the digital design phase transitions to the tangible, with physical prototypes tested for visual and tactile harmony. Clay Luraschi, Topps’ senior VP of product, underscores the importance of this tactile evaluation. “When we have our final designs, we simulate opening a pack to gauge true audience reception,” Luraschi shared, revealing the rarity and rigor of the decision-making process, often one of the office’s most spirited annual debates.
With the final design selected, the journey extends beyond just this base set, as 2025 Topps Series 1 introduces beloved subsets that fans eagerly anticipate:
– Future Stars
– All-Topps Team
– Training Grounds (Spring Training features)
– Call to the Hall (a nod to Hall of Fame entrants)
– City Connect Swatch Collection Autographs
– Heavy Lumber Autographs
Returning favorites, like Signature Tunes, pair athletes with the musicians behind their memorable walk-up music, while First Pitch features celebrities who graced the pitcher’s mound last year.
An extra nod for Los Angeles aficionados: Dodgers-centric base-card variations spotlight memorable team moments, including Freddie Freeman’s cheerful dance on reaching base—the Freeman sway, now immortalized in card form.
This year, Topps celebrates the 35th anniversary of its iconic 1990 set so beloved for its audacious splash of colors; still, Imbriano’s revolutionary new base design holds center stage. “Creating card art is akin to designing a movie poster,” Imbriano expressed. “Each card should grab attention, much like a mini artwork encountered in a collector’s palm.”
That artistic philosophy embodies the Topps design ethos: creating timeless pieces that captivate and resonate through the decades. “Phil’s design brilliance is exceptional,” Luraschi praised. “Years from now, the cards should inherently reflect their origin year. This set embodies that vision splendidly.”
