In the bustling echoes of New York City’s underground labyrinth, where commuters tap away at smartphones or lose themselves in the morning grind, a particularly inventive mind found fascination in the unassuming. Phil Imbriano, a seasoned designer at Topps, discovered his muse not in grand artistic exhibitions or serene landscapes but on the gritty, jostling ride of the NYC subway. An ordinary commute became the birthplace of inspiration that would eventually transform into the eye-catching design of the 2025 Topps Series 1 baseball cards, which launches today.
The narrative begins with a casual glance. En route to work, Imbriano’s gaze was captivated by a sleek, red-and-silver badge with its dynamic curves and lines embedded in the corner of a subway car. Without missing a beat, his designer instincts took over. He reached for his phone, captured the moment quickly, and by the time he settled into his Topps workspace, the subway echo had metamorphosed into sketches—potential blueprints now laid out for Topps’ new baseball card designs.
“I love drawing inspiration from everyday things,” Imbriano shares, the excitement for the mundane palpable in his voice. “A building, a sign, anything that catches my eye. I photograph them to revisit later. Simple can transform into big ideas.”
And so it did. The seemingly innocuous subway badge evolved into the latest Topps gem: a design characterized by two bold lines rising along the left side and sweeping across the top, offering a stylistic nod unmistakably similar to the cherished 1982 Topps set. Planned or serendipitous? Interestingly, Imbriano’s design journey began inspired by the classic woodgrain styles of the 1962 and 1987 collections. The ’82 resemblance, he admits, was an unplanned coincidence—a “happy accident,” as he describes it. This unintended nod seamlessly blended a vintage vibe with contemporary flair, striking a perfect balance that appeals to nostalgic hearts and new fans alike.
The creation of a Topps card design is far from a hasty process. It’s a lecturer of fierce internal competition held at Topps headquarters. Designers present their concepts, which undergo rounds of critiques and refinements. Imbriano’s subway-inspired design ultimately triumphed over 20 other contenders, each meticulously crafted through months of ardent brainstorming and designing marathons. Interestingly, parts of non-winning designs often find refuge in future sets—this year, a polemic element from past submissions appears as a novel field graphic symbolizing the player’s position.
Blending the spark of a subway moment with diligent refining, Imbriano produced nearly a dozen iterations before arriving at the final masterpiece—the 2025 Topps Series 1 design.
“There’s an immense amount of work behind the creation of these cards,” Imbriano notes emphatically. “Most people don’t realize the level of dedication involved before a card reaches their hands.”
Once digital designs are honed to visualize perfection, the process transitions to the tangible. Topps jumps into production mode, crafting physical prototypes to ensure the cards deliver on both aesthetic appeal and tactile satisfaction. Clay Luraschi, Topps’ senior vice president of product, underscores the process’s importance: “When narrowing down to the top five designs, we print and simulate opening packs. It’s intensive, competitive, and our most debated office event annually.”
In his words lies an understanding—this isn’t merely about designing cards; it’s cultivating heritage. “It’s the 74th edition,” Luraschi reflects, honoring the legacy stretching back to Sy Berger’s kitchen-table creativity. “We regard this history seriously. It’s a grand responsibility—albeit a joyous one.”
Beyond the appraised base set lies a cornucopia of additional subsets in this year’s Topps offering. Predictably beloved series such as Future Stars, All-Topps Team, and Call to the Hall, which pays homage to Hall of Fame inductees, make their anticipated return. Unique to 2025, subsets like City Connect Swatch Collection Autographs and Heavy Lumber Autographs deepen the intrigue for collectors. Signature Tunes will again creatively pair players with the maestros behind their at-bat soundtracks while the quirky charm of First Pitch showcases celebrities translating spirit into ceremonial first-pitch prowess.
Lifelong Dodgers fans beware: an exclusive treat lurks—a series of base-card variants capturing jubilant team moments, complete with Freddie Freeman’s celebrated “Freddie Dance.”
A bow to past design glory, the 35th-anniversary tribute celebrates the iconic 1990 Topps set, notorious for its vibrant and bold tableau. Yet, at this narrative’s heart is Imbriano’s monumental base design—each card a mini cinematic poster poised to captivate collectors.
“I design like crafting a movie poster,” Imbriano muses, dream woven into words. “Each card is a stand-alone spectacle, a collectible treasure in miniature.”
Such is the ethos driving Topps’ design legacy. In Luraschi’s words: “Phil’s design is outstanding. Fifty years from now, it should mark its era timelessly. This design fulfills that vision splendidly.”
Evidently, whether born of woodgrain nostalgia or spontaneous subway serendipity, the art of card design remains as exhilarating and unpredictable as ever—every ride perhaps another chance to dream up history.
