Behind the Design of 2024 Topps Big League Baseball
Paying Homage
Step into the batter’s box and prepare to embark on an exciting journey through the 2024 Topps Big League Baseball set, where tradition meets innovation in every meticulously designed card. During our conversation with Topps Art Director Ryan Lee, he unveiled the intricate design principles that guided the creation of this year’s collection.
“We wanted to honor and evolve 2023’s Base Card for 2024,” Lee revealed, setting the stage for the design process. “We wanted to retain the use of a clean border to present parallels while incorporating primary and secondary team colors to help push the variety in a single pack of cards.” This decision wasn’t arbitrary; it stemmed from a desire to maintain a sense of continuity while infusing freshness into the collection.
But the design journey didn’t stop there. Lee explained their decision to extend the athletes’ images into the border, creating a captivating interplay of texture and contrast from card to card. Moreover, the design drew inspiration from the iconic Topps Big League Baseball logo; as Lee elaborated, “The entire design plays off the details of the Topps Big League Baseball logo. The frame for the player image mimics the shape and angle of the ‘B,’ the shapes that create team color in the border are the negative space of the Big League logo, and the team logo and player text holders mimic the ribbons we’ve added that display the levels of rarity.”
Inserts
Lee also offered insights into the design elements distinguishing the rare base cards of select stars in the 2024 Topps Big League Baseball set, highlighting the increased visibility of rarity and the integration of team mascot cards alongside the rare base cards. He discussed the design nuances of the die-cut cards showcasing the game’s best home run hitters, revealing their approach to exaggerating the concept of home runs leaving the atmosphere and going into orbit.
As our conversation drew to a close, Lee shared the design team’s favorite inserts for the 2024 Topps Big League Baseball set, including the Topps Chrome LET’S GO design and THE BIGS!, featuring the top 10 rookies stepping into the spotlight. He also teased collectors with the return of the BECOME A BIG LEAGUER program, where kids 14 and under can be featured on their own trading cards.
In baseball card collecting, the 2024 Topps Big League Baseball set offers more than just cards; it’s a journey through the heart of the sport, where every card tells a story, and every collector becomes part of the game’s rich tapestry.
