Inspiration, however elusive, has its own quirky way of appearing in the most mundane circumstances. For Phil Imbriano, a senior designer at Topps, the muse for the 2025 Series 1 baseball cards came barreling down the tracks of the New York City subway. Unbeknownst to him, a seemingly ordinary commute would morph into a defining moment for sports card design.
It was on one such monotonous ride that Imbriano’s discerning gaze fell upon a modest yet striking red-and-silver badge adorning the corner of the subway car. The design captured his imagination with its sleek lines and subtle curves. As a designer always on the hunt for the extraordinary within the ordinary, Imbriano instinctively snapped a photo. By the time he reached his Topps office, he was already mentally drafting the blueprint that would lay the foundation for the 2025 card series.
The journey from a mere subway snapshot to the finished product involved numerous iterations and the alchemical magic of design inspiration. Imbriano’s initial sketches eventually transformed into the latest base design for the Topps Series 1 baseball cards, which were ceremoniously unveiled today. A quiet nod to the radiant past, the design features two bold, uplifting lines gracing the left side and sweeping across the top, making it a sibling in spirit to the iconic 1982 Topps set, albeit with a fresh vibrancy; this time the lines flaunt the hues of each team’s colors.
For those who believe such nostalgic echoes were carefully planned, Imbriano insists otherwise. A nostalgic call-out connected him instead to the warm grainy nostalgia of the 1962 and 1987 sets. “The ’82 connotation? Pure chance,” he chuckles, finding serendipity in spontaneity as the 1982 resemblance wound its undeniable way into his modern design. The confluence of vintage style with contemporary twists lent a new, captivating halo to the design, capturing the eye—and the heart—of collectors.
Competing against a tapestry of over 20 different design submissions, each with its suite of unique merits and choices of nostalgia or forward-thinking, Imbriano’s design rose in favor. The months-long process was rigorous and competitive, as was the tradition at Topps. It’s not uncommon for designs that came to stand second to later manifest in future sets, with a particular graphical flourish—a small field graphic marking the player’s position in the card’s corner—finding its way into the limelight this year.
For Imbriano, the journey from capturing that compelling subway image to bringing a tangible baseball card into collectors’ hands included drafting roughly ten iterations before landing on the definitive design. “So much labor goes into this process,” he muses. “Most people probably don’t realize the myriad decisions made long before they ever hold one of our cards.”
When digital imagery morphs into the physical realm, Topps ensures the journey remains tactile. Handcrafted prototypes are created to assess their real-world appeal—crucially examining how the cards feel when being opened from a pack. Clay Luraschi, Topps’ senior VP of Product, understands the significance of this tactile experience. “We simulate the pack-opening experience. It’s a vital part of the process, and frankly, one of the most hotly-debated activities in our office.”
The sense of legacy is a serious affair at Topps, made poignant by the acknowledgement of their foundational days when Sy Berger engineered designs from his kitchen table. Today, advanced technology and passionate debates have sustained and reinvigorated that legacy.
Yet, the base design is merely the start of an intriguing odyssey with Topps Series 1— acting as a preamble to a fascinating collection of subsets, each narrating a distinct tale: Future Stars lights the way for promising players, All-Topps Team highlights the premier players of the league, and Training Grounds offers glimpses of Spring Training highlights. Call to the Hall celebrates those enshrined in glory, while signature City Connect Swatch Collection and Heavy Lumber Autographs offer collectors exclusive treasures.
This year’s set nods to the past, with its colorful and bold 1990 homage. Acknowledging current heroes, Signature Tunes unites players and musicians behind their signature walk-up songs, whereas First Pitch captures celebrities amidst the whimsical tradition of ceremonial first pitches. A treat for Dodgers aficionados? Collectors will find treasured variations including the iconic Freddie Dance by Freddie Freeman, swaying his signature hip action.
Imbriano likens designing a card to crafting a movie poster. “Each card should command attention, a miniature piece of art that collectors can revel in.” That philosophical drive invigorates Topps’ collective ethos, ensuring that each card series isn’t just a set of collectibles but a tangible piece of design history.
Ultimately, Luraschi wraps it all up succinctly: “Phil’s design offers a spirited glimpse of where we are and where we’ve been. Looking forward, it will be an instantly recognizable icon marking its own time.” Fifty years from now, with collectors tracing the lineage of design work and revival, there will be no mistaking the bold emblem that delineates the 2025 Topps from its illustrious predecessors.
