Life has a funny way of sparking inspiration in the most unexpected of places, like a morning commute on the New York City subway. For Phil Imbriano, a seasoned designer at Topps, who specializes in crafting iconic baseball card designs, it was a nondescript subway ride last year that catalyzed a burst of creativity. Locked in his usual morning routine, Imbriano’s gaze was caught by a shiny red-and-silver badge nestled in the corner of the train car. The sleek, intertwined lines of the badge stood out amid the humdrum bustle of commuters, and Imbriano, recognizing potential where others might see mere mundanity, captured the moment with a quick snapshot. By the time he reached his desk at the Topps headquarters, his mind was buzzing with ideas, and his sketchpad was already getting filled with what would become the signature design of the 2025 Topps Series 1 baseball cards.
Such serendipitous moments highlight how inspiration can bloom from the unexpected. “I love drawing inspiration from everyday things,” Imbriano enthusiastically admitted. “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 result of this moment of creative genius is a fresh, eye-catching design that features two bold, sweeping lines embracing the left and top of each card. For the seasoned baseball card aficionado, this design might spark a sense of nostalgia. It harks back to Topps’ 1982 set, albeit with a contemporary twist that includes team-specific color matching. Ironically, Imbriano hadn’t initially aimed for a modern take on the ’82 aesthetic. Rather, his initial muses were the woodgrain textures of the 1962 and 1987 sets. “The ’82 connection was a happy accident,” he noted, chuckling. “But I think it works because it blends vintage style with a modern twist.”
The journey from subway inspiration to card production is no easy shortstop by any means. At Topps, the design for its highly collectible products is the result of a rigorous, competitive process. Designers propose their vision amidst a panel of other fantastic designs, undergoing months of scrutiny and review. Imbriano’s sketch morphed through ten variations before ultimately being selected over 20 other submissions in this taxing process. In the ever-evolving arena of design, past ideas that do not make it to production are not always put aside. Elements from those concepts often find their way into future series, lending continuity and depth to the Topps legacy.
However, as any craftsman knows, a vision only transforms into reality through iteration and collaboration. As the digital designs take shape, Topps shifts to crafting tangible prototypes. This transition from screen to physical product is an integral step, allowing designers to truly appraise and refine their creations. Clay Luraschi, serving as the senior vice president of product at Topps, detailed this process, “When we’re down to the final five designs, we actually print them out and simulate opening a pack. It’s a long, competitive process, and it’s one of the biggest debates we have in the office all year.”
Luraschi further emphasized the reverence the company holds for its heritage, shared by all from its origins in Sy Berger’s kitchen to today’s high-tech methods. “This is the 74th edition of Topps baseball cards. Everyone on the team knows how important this is,” he remarked. “It’s a big deal—but also a lot of fun.”
The adventure doesn’t stop at the base set nostalgia offers. The Topps Series 1 release comes with a variety of intriguing subsets designed to capture the imagination of collectors new and seasoned alike. These fresh faces include Future Stars, All-Topps Team, Training Grounds celebrating Spring Training highlights, and Call to the Hall, which honors the latest wave of Hall of Fame inductees. Additionally, fans will be thrilled with exclusive items like the City Connect Swatch Collection Autographs and Heavy Lumber Autographs.
For those enamored with the spectacle of the sport, signature cards like First Pitch, which presents celebrities tossing ceremonial first throws, and Signature Tunes, marrying players with the artists behind their walk-up music, add a modern allure. Dodger fans, in particular, get treated to a base-card variation limelight with vibrant depictions of celebratory moments, crowned by Freddie Freeman’s charismatic “Freddie Dance.”
In line with tradition, Topps will celebrate the 35th anniversary of the 1990 set, known for its bold, daring hues, breathing new life into the old classics.
Reflecting on the project, Imbriano frames designing each card akin to crafting a movie poster—a solitary card grasped in a fan’s hand should echo the spirit of the entire collection, like a mini artwork unto itself. Luraschi, echoing the sentiment, lauded the timelessness of the 2025 design. “I think Phil’s design is incredible,” he said. “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.”
Among cardboard keepsakes and nostalgia-driven narratives, Imbriano’s subway muse underscores the enduring joy of discovery and creation that can come from any corner of everyday life. As these cards make their debut, it’s heartening to think that somewhere another aspiring artist might find their own spark, perhaps even while riding the rails.
