Inspiration can often strike in the most ordinary of places, like the rustling leaves of a tree or the rhythm of rainfall. But for Phil Imbriano, a senior designer at Topps, it came aboard a rumbling New York City subway car. One mundane commute last year, something extraordinary caught his eye: a red-and-silver badge that subtly adorned the corner of his train car. An unintentional muse, its sleek lines and subtle curves spurred his creative prowess. Without hesitation, Imbriano snapped a quick photograph with his phone. By the time he settled at his desk, his mind was already awash with fresh ideas for a baseball card design.
These impulses sparked the creation of what would ultimately become the base design for the 2025 Topps Series 1 baseball cards, officially unveiled to the public today. The seemingly serendipitous moment aboard a subway ride spun into a months-long endeavor that transformed a simple sight into a bold and innovative baseball card collection.
“I love drawing inspiration from everyday things,” Imbriano explained, a twinkle of excitement evident in his eyes. “It could be a building, a sign—just something that catches my eye. I take pictures and refer back to them later. You never know when something simple will turn into something big.”
The 2025 design is characterized by two decisive lines sweeping majestically up the left side and across the card’s top, crafting a dynamic energy that hints at movement, almost as if the players depicted could leap from the card into action. A tip of the hat to Topps’ 1982 set, these lines are color-matched to each team, giving each card a personalized flair. Interestingly enough, this nostalgic design nod wasn’t originally part of the plan. Imbriano had initially delved into the woodgrain aesthetics reminiscent of the 1962 and 1987 collections.
“The ’82 connection was a happy accident,” he admitted, nodding as if appreciating the harmonious blend of past and present. “But I think it works because it blends vintage style with a modern twist.”
The journey from that subway epiphany to the launch of these cards involved a rigorous in-house creative clash. Contesting against over twenty other designs, Imbriano’s sketches emerged victorious through multiple review rounds. It was no small feat, considering the meticulous attention to detail and fierce competition among Topps’ designers. It is not unusual for components of past non-winning designs to resurface, integrating themselves into future collections. For instance, this year’s card includes a small field graphic marking the player’s position at the card’s bottom right corner—a detail borrowed from a prior design submission.
From that initial moment of inspiration to the final product, Imbriano experimented with nearly ten variations before sealing the deal on the final design.
“There’s so much that goes into this process,” he said, acknowledging the artistry and labor behind the scenes. “I don’t think most people realize how much work happens before they ever hold the card in their hands.”
With a watchful eye and keen design sensibility, bringing the cards to life is a tactile experience well beyond the digital conceptualization. At Topps, the designs undergo a hands-on evaluation process. According to Clay Luraschi, Topps’ senior vice president of product, creating physical prototypes helps ensure the cards’ quality and appeal.
“When we’re down to the final five designs, we actually print them out and simulate opening a pack,” Luraschi explained. “It’s a long, competitive process, and it’s one of the biggest debates we have in the office all year.”
The stakes are high. After all, this year marks the 74th edition of Topps baseball cards—a storied history dating back to when Sy Berger first sketched designs on his kitchen table. The task is to marry tradition with innovation, a responsibility the Topps team shoulders with both gravity and exuberance.
While the base set commands attention, it’s merely the surface of this year’s offerings. The 2025 Topps Series 1 collection boasts intriguing and crowd-pleasing subsets, including Future Stars, the All-Topps Team, and Training Grounds, spotlighting Spring Training highlights. It intersperses narratives of iconic Hall of Fame inductees in the Call to the Hall subset, alongside the trending City Connect Swatch Collection Autographs and the Heavy Lumber Autographs.
A returning favorite, Signature Tunes, creatively matches players with the musicians behind their walk-up songs. The First Pitch subset captures celebrities casting ceremonial first pitches into the limelight. Los Angeles Dodgers fans, in particular, have reason to celebrate with special base-card variations featuring jubilant snapshots, including the ‘Freddie Dance,’ Freddie Freeman’s signature rejoicing motion after reaching base.
As a nod to the past, the 35th-anniversary tribute revels in the nostalgia of the exuberantly colorful 1990 Topps set. Yet, at the heart of the collection is Phil Imbriano’s masterful base design, a vision that converts each card into a standalone work of art.
“I approach designing cards like I would a movie poster,” he mused, his hand poetically waving as if framing an imaginary card. “Each card should stand out on its own, almost like a mini poster in a collector’s hands.”
That connection is vital. Topps’ design philosophy ensures that, like a captivating film or cherished tune, these cards leave a lasting essence.
“I think Phil’s design is incredible,” Luraschi said with admiration. “Fifty years from now, people should be able to look at a card and instantly recognize the year it’s from. This one absolutely nails that idea.”
From an unlikely muse found amid the clang and bustle of a city commute, to a distinctly memorable artifact in the hands of a collector, the 2025 Topps Series 1 Cards effectively capture the timeless energy of the great American pastime.
