Inspiration often comes when least expected and in the most routine of places. For Phil Imbriano, a senior designer at Topps, the genesis of the 2025 Topps Series 1 baseball cards came not from an art gallery or a designer showcase, but from a humble subway ride across New York City. It was an everyday stripe of red and silver on a train badge that unfurled a cascade of creativity. What began as a passing glance evolved into a design revolution marking one of the most celebrated baseball card releases in years.
Imbriano recalls, with enthusiasm that rivals a child’s gleeful discovery, how that serendipitous commute became a conduit for artistic innovation. “I love drawing inspiration from everyday things,” he shares, as if imparting a vital universal truth. “A building, a sign—sometimes the smallest detail captures your imagination and you’ll find it’s the spark for something great.” And indeed, the fleeting image on a badge became exactly that—a catalyst for something extraordinary.
Upon promptly photographing the badge’s sleek contours, Imbriano wasted no time in translating that visual intrigue into the first sketches of what would define the upcoming card series. By the time he reached his office and sat at his Topps desk, he was furiously sketching fresh ideas, already eager to embed this newfound muse into the cherished fabric of baseball culture.
The design took on a life of its own, exhibiting bold lines sweeping up the left side and cascading across the top of the cards. It subtly echoes the 1982 Topps set, providing a nod to nostalgia wrapped in modernity, with intricate features like color-matched lines specific to each team. Imbriano admits the resemblance came as a surprise, an unintentional but welcomed parallel. “The ’82 connection was a happy accident,” he shares. “I think it adds a vintage soul coupled with a contemporary spirit.”
This retro-modern hybrid was distilled through an intense selection process amidst the fierce creative competition at Topps. A multitude of 21 design submissions battled head-on, with various concepts rigorously vetted throughout several in-house review stages. Ultimately, Imbriano’s design emerged victorious. Notably, this iteration even incorporated updates from previous non-winning concepts, such as a strategic field graphic denoting player position at the card’s lower right, subtly enriching the card’s narrative.
Transforming these designs from digital dreams to tangible treasures involves an equally meticulous tacit process. Topps physically fashions prototypes to assert their real-world texture and appeal. Clay Luraschi, Topps’ senior vice president of product, underscores the critical nature of this phase. “Once we narrow it down to the final designs, we print them out and simulate opening a pack,” Luraschi explains. Holding these cards in one’s hand is more than an action; it’s an experience designed to blend nostalgia with novelty.
The Topps’ tradition is steeped in history. From Sy Berger’s elemental designs sketched over a kitchen table to today’s dynamic processes using state-of-the-art techniques, the gravity of their legacy is palpable. It’s serious business, sprinkled with the joy and excitement of creation. “We know this is the 74th edition of Topps baseball cards. We honor that legacy but also have fun with it,” Luraschi vows.
Beyond the artful base, the 2025 set launches a plethora of popular subsets that breathe life into baseball lore: ‘Future Stars’ and ‘All-Topps Team’ among them, with delightful additions like ‘City Connect Swatch Collection Autographs’. Signature Tunes, a beloved favorite, bridges sports and music, pairing players with artists behind their walk-up songs. The set promises something special for every fan, with each card echoing a personal story or moment.
Los Angeles Dodgers enthusiasts, in particular, can revel in unique base-card variations capturing exuberant moments, such as Freddie Freeman’s infectious ‘Freddie Dance’—a characteristic bemusement of hip-swaying festivity post-base reach.
There’s a reflective homage embedded within these freshly minted cards. This year marks a 35th-anniversary tribute to the vibrant 1990 Topps set, remembered for its exuberant colors—a vivid counterpoint to perfectly complement the contemporary collection. As always, standing at the heart of this venture is Imbriano’s pioneering base design.
Drawing from a blend of cinematic influence and artistic attention, Imbriano likens his card design approach to crafting a movie poster. Each design aims to tell a story, akin to holding a miniature masterpiece scaled for the collector’s joy. “I approach it as though each card is a statement, a story, each needing to stand out independently,” he shares.
Ultimately, this riveting design journey showcases the transformative power of inspiration found in daily routines and a tribute to a dynamic team translating fleeting moments into enduring legacies, etching a timeline in the tactile magic of baseball card chronicles. The Topps 2025 collection is a beautiful reminder that while times change, the passion that fuels a love for the game—and the art around it—continues to thrive unhampered.
Imbriano’s creation indeed captures that magic and mystery of what baseball cards are meant to be: a tangible connection to the spirit of the game, enduring through time.
