In the bustling cacophony of New York City’s subways, where the daily grind is often a blur of faces, phones, and muted announcements, one man distinctly found inspiration amidst the ordinary. For Phil Imbriano, a senior designer at Topps, a routine commute became a creative epiphany. As the cityscape whizzed past, his glance fell upon a small red-and-silver badge in the corner, its sleek lines and curves sparking an unexpected idea that would define a season of baseball card design.
Arriving at the Topps office with the rhythm of the train still fresh in his mind, Imbriano immediately set to transforming vague ideas into tangible sketches. By the time he settled at his desk, the framework of the 2025 Topps Series 1 baseball cards design began to take shape, launching a new chapter for fans and collectors alike.
Phil Imbriano’s ability to extract inspiration from the mundane isn’t a mere accident but rather a testament to the creative process. “I love drawing inspiration from everyday things,” he explains. “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.”
This serendipitous flash of inspiration evolved into the signature look for the 2025 card series—a design characterized by two bold lines sweeping up the left side and across the top of each card. While some collectors may notice a striking resemblance to the 1982 Topps set, sporting team-color-matched lines, the homage was purely unintentional. A nod to the woodgrain aesthetics from the 1962 and 1987 sets was the initial direction, but this “happy accident,” as Imbriano describes it, masterfully merges vintage charm with a modern flair, creating something entirely original yet comfortingly familiar.
The journey of this artistic endeavor wasn’t a singular triumph but a collaborative effort forged through a rigorous internal process at Topps. Designers offered over 20 submissions, each vying for the spotlight. Imbriano’s design emerged victorious through rounds of intense scrutiny and deliberation, a testament to the thoughtful precision embedded in each card’s creation. As noted, even non-winning designs contribute small elements to the final set, adding dimension to this collective artistic enterprise—like the new field graphic feature indicating player positions on the card’s bottom right corner.
“There’s so much that goes into this process,” Imbriano reflects. “I don’t think most people realize how much work happens before they ever hold the card in their hands.” It’s a glimpse into the precision and passion fueling these miniature artforms, which are as much a tribute to baseball as they are a collectible treasure.
After the digital designs passed through the gauntlet of critiques, their next stage is perhaps the most critical—physically bringing them to life. Topps, under the discerning eye of Clay Luraschi, senior vice president of product, creates prototypes to assess the tactile and visual authenticity of each design.
“When we’re down to the final five designs, we actually print them out and simulate opening a pack,” Luraschi reveals. “It’s a long, competitive process, and it’s one of the biggest debates we have in the office all year.” The printed cards allow the team to grasp the emotional experience fans will encounter, a crucial step in honoring the rich history these cards represent—from design veteran Sy Berger’s origin stories at his kitchen table to today’s sophisticated process.
The cornerstone design is just the beginning, as the Series 1 set unfolds a tapestry of intriguing subsets. Highlights include fan-favorites such as Future Stars, All-Topps Team, and the Training Grounds, among others. First Pitch series brings a slice of pop culture into the mix, celebrating celebrities with ceremonial first pitches, while Signature Tunes pairs players with the artists behind their walk-up songs, encapsulating the unique flair each player brings to the game.
Dodgers devotees are in for a treat with exclusive card variations capturing moments of joy, and notably, the infectious Freddie Dance by Freddie Freeman. Additionally, this iteration celebrates a 35th-anniversary nod to the vibrant aesthetics of the 1990 Topps set, enhancing the nostalgia that reverberates through every card.
“I approach designing cards like I would a movie poster,” Imbriano explains, visualizing each card as a standalone piece of art. “Each card should stand out on its own, almost like a mini-poster in a collector’s hands.” It’s this philosophy that epitomizes the spirit of Topps’ commitment to its community—a marriage of art and memorabilia where every detail tells a story.
And it’s precisely this ambition to bind past and present that resonates with collectors, according to Luraschi, who succinctly captures the design’s enduring appeal. “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 a subway serendipity to a product that intertwines decades of history with modern innovation, the 2025 Topps Series 1 baseball cards promise to be more than just collectibles—they are vivid snapshots of inspiration, heritage, and the love for the game.
