Inspiration travels alongside us quietly, waiting for the unusual moment to spark, much like a background jazz tune in a bustling café. It’s often disguised as routine, and it can emerge from the most unassuming corners of daily life—a truth Phil Imbriano, a senior designer at Topps, knows all too well. Riding the New York City subway for his regular commute, Imbriano’s creative journey began subtly, as his gaze fixated on a gleaming red-and-silver badge nestled in the corner of the train car. There was nothing overtly extraordinary about it, yet its sleek lines and curves struck him like a bolt of artistic lightning. Equipped with a camera attached to his phone, he immortalized the design and found himself sketching new card ideas as soon as he arrived at his desk.
From that subway sighting a year ago emerged the foundation of what today launches as the 2025 Topps Series 1 baseball card design. It’s a serendipitous tale of creativity meeting curiosity, as the seemingly mundane transformed into a highly anticipated collector’s dream.
“When it comes to design, everyday things are my playground,” Imbriano shared, with a gleeful recollection of his subway epiphany. “From buildings to signs, even the art of an object left forlorn—it’s all ripe with potential. You can never predict when a simple observation becomes a groundbreaking moment.”
The newly minted design for 2025 showcases two dynamic lines sweeping majestically up the card’s left side and across the top. Collectors, particularly those with a penchant for nostalgia, might see a familiar echo—without intending to, Imbriano tapped into the essence of the 1982 Topps set. This was purely accidental, as the original inspiration lay with the woodgrain aesthetics of both the 1962 and 1987 sets. “The connection to ’82 was like a happy little accident,” Imbriano chuckles. “Yet it marries vintage allure with a fresh, modern twist, and that’s what makes it so intriguing.”
Making it through the crucible of a fiercely competitive internal process at Topps, designers battle for supremacy by submitting numerous concepts, all of which endure multiple rounds of exhaustive review. Imbriano’s inspired design distinguished itself against over 20 other formidable contenders, with a few chosen elements from the unsuccessful concepts resurrecting in future sets. A notable iteration this year includes a subtle field graphic embedded in the lower-right corner, marking out the player’s position.
The creative journey from that spontaneous moment on the subway to a finalized product saw Imbriano crafting nearly ten diverse versions before settling on the definitive look. “There’s tremendous work and rework that happens before collectors ever touch these cards,” he remarked, alluding to the often-overlooked blood, sweat, and ink spilled in the design process.
*Crafting the Physical Experience*
With digital designs solidified, Topps transitions into creating physical prototypes—a crucial step for ensuring aesthetic and tactile congruity. Clay Luraschi, Topps’ senior vice president of product, hoists each prototype into the tactile experience of fandom, validating the designs through a simulated pack opening.
“When we get down to the wire with our final five designs, it’s like entering the gladiator pit. We physically print the cards and assess the whole unwrapping experience,” Luraschi explained. “This decision-making arena really ranks among the top debates of our year, every year.” The enthusiasm is palpable when Luraschi adds, “As a team, we carry the weight of history; this is our 74th edition. From Sy Berger’s humble kitchen table designs to today’s digital wizardry, we deeply honor this legacy. It’s hefty, but it’s also exhilarating fun!”
*Sculpting Tomorrow, Today*
Beyond the base design lies a digital tapestry of innovation. The 2025 Topps Series 1 set doesn’t just rest on its laurel-lined laing—the base design—alone. It lures fans in with several captivating subsets:
– Future Stars
– All-Topps Team
– Training Grounds, with Spring Training highlights
– Call to the Hall, a homage to Hall of Famers
– City Connect Swatch Collection Autographs
– Heavy Lumber Autographs
Highlights return with popular subsets like Signature Tunes, which unite players with the crooning artists behind their walk-up tunes, and First Pitch, a tribute to the celebrities who threw ceremonial first pitches during last season’s baseball pre-show.
For those adored Dodgers disciples, there’s a visual smorgasbord with the special base-card variations, gleefully spotlighting iconic festive scenes, including the animated Freddie Freeman delighting spectators with his signature “Freddie Dance” as he sways after a successful base bid.
The year’s commemorative flair unfurls in a 35th-anniversary tribute to the 1990 Topps collection, noted for its bold, exuberant palette. Yet, at the heart of this nostalgic ode lies Imbriano’s striking catapult into new design territory.
Leaning into his design methodology, Imbriano approaches his task with a cinematic lens. “Designing cards is very much like crafting a movie poster. You want each card to possess the grandiosity and captivating appeal of a mini-poster lingering in a collector’s arsenal.” This collector vantage is precisely the cornerstone of Topps’ visionary pursuits.
Clay Luraschi sums up this brand ethos succinctly, “Phil’s design veers into extraordinary territory. Decades from now, folks will view these cards and peg their origin at a glance. This design threads an authentic time signature—anchoring us in the incredible now.”
