Phil Imbriano, a senior designer at Topps, has proven that the New York City subway is more than just a vehicle; it can also be a fertile ground for inspiration. As he commuted to work one ordinary day, his eye caught a striking red-and-silver badge within the train car. Its sleek lines and seamless curves were arresting enough that he snapped a photo without delay. By the time he arrived at his desk, his creativity had been set into full motion. These spontaneous sketches would gradually morph into the innovative design of the 2025 Topps Series 1 baseball cards, which fans can finally hold in their hands starting today.
“I love drawing inspiration from every day experiences,” Imbriano stated passionately. “Anything can catch my attention, be it a quirky building facade or the unexpected allure of a subway badge.” The designer’s quick snapshots become a wellspring of ideas, revealing the potential within the commonplace. His latest artistic endeavor echoes this exact sentiment—the beauty of turning the ordinary into the enriching extraordinary.
The card’s design features two bold, dramatic lines that arch elegantly, gracing the left side before sweeping across the top. Fans with a keen eye may spot the resemblance to the nostalgic 1982 Topps set. Although Imbriano’s original muses were the wooden finishes of the 1962 and 1987 sets, the ’82 connection emerged serendipitously. “The resemblance wasn’t intentional, but once I saw it, I knew this was a past-meets-present moment,” he mused. “It bridges the essence of vintage charm infused with a dash of modern flair.”
The journey from subway prophecy to fruition was no simple sprint but a marathon within Topps’ designer ranks. Each year, a flurry of ideas flood the in-house competition, with various concepts jostling for the winners’ circle after enduring multiple review rounds. Imbriano’s design, with its accidental homage to the past, outshone 20 other entries, each vying for the coveted stamp of approval through months of deliberations. Alongside the main design, a feature reminiscent of prior designs—a field graphic marking players’ positions—brings a touch of continuity and evolution to the cards.
“Bringing the design to life is a process in itself,” Imbriano reflected. “People often don’t realize the labor of love that occurs before these pieces of art find their way into collectors’ grips.”
The tangible creation of these cards is as meticulous as their digital counterparts. Topps simulates the unbridling excitement of opening a pack by creating physical prototypes. Clay Luraschi, Topps’ senior vice president of product, stresses the importance of this tactile phase. “We’re not just designing; we’re curating an experience,” Luraschi explained. The design selection is often a heated, passionate debate, one that demands a balance between honoring Topps’ storied legacy and sparking fresh enthusiasm. Having marked the 74th year in their prolific history, Topps bears the weight—and joy—of this responsibility with pride.
But the base design is merely the iceberg’s tip. The Topps Series 1 bursts forth with a medley of irresistible subsets. From Future Stars to All-Topps Team, and from Spring Training highlights in Training Grounds to the nostalgic Call to the Hall celebrating Hall of Fame inductees—there’s something for everyone as Topps continues to revitalize what fans adore. There’s even a special nod to the Dodgers’ faithful. Exclusive base-card variants celebrate memorable moments, including Freddie Freeman’s iconic “Freddie Dance.”
Topps loves homage, and this year their 35th-anniversary set tips its cap to the vibrantly boisterous 1990 cards. The essence of Imbriano’s base design, however, remains the central player. “Creating baseball cards mirrors designing a striking movie poster,” Imbriano quipped. “Every single card must make an arresting first impression, like holding a prized mini poster.” His sentiment reflects the heart of Topps’ creative philosophy—each card is a microcosm of its year, a snapshot meant to endure.
Luraschi agreed, “Phil’s work on the 2025 set accomplishes this beautifully. We hope that in fifty years, collectors will nostalgically flip through their collections, instantly transported back to 2025 by a single glance at these cards.” Phil Imbriano’s subway-induced reverie not only shaped the latest Topps design, but it also etched another line in the treasured timeline of baseball card artistry—a seamless blend of modern inspiration and vintage allure.
