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They actually are alive and well with football and basketball players in the high schools around here. My son was a football player and earned his jacket and his letter in football along with an All-State football tag. His position was also indicated on his shoulder. I think I had to pay $90.00 for the jacket. While baseball players do earn letters, they had no jacket to put them on. My son was elected as his high schools most outstanding something or other and his picture was made in his high school letter jacket for the high school album.
At his college they do earn letter jackets (given to them)and they are a prized possession although players tend to be very discreet about where they wear them. Depending on the situation it can be very cool to wear them or it can be very un-cool too. I think letter sweaters went out with Pat Boone, The Brothers Four, and the shoes we called white and "dirty bucks". noidea
Fungo
It was a big deal for my son - getting a varsity letter in baseball as a freshman was a nice achievement, now reflected in his jacket. I still have mine, too, from when I lettered as a freshman in baseball at Northville High School, Northville, Michigan, Class of '79! I don't wear it anymore, but I hang it with pride. We went through a lot together in high school, me and my jacket. We grew up together Wink
Still very popular at our high school, but after graduation, to the closet they go. With medals being given for various awards in various sports, my son is a walking wind chime.

NEVER ever wear one on a college campus. I took my sons to a football game when they were younger and one wore his varsity jacket, his normal attire then. As he walked across campus, he caught a couple "OH GEE, An atha-lete"-type wise guy comments.

We received them in college as well. Unfortunately, when my time came they were re-designed into a gosh-awful bright orange with a tad of maroon. It became my trash take out coat upon getting married, ultimately died, and was buried in an unmarked dumpster.
My son is an '07 who got his last year and is very proud of it. I'd probably still be wearing mine, but the seams of the sleeves split and I haven't found a local place to fix it. But then I haven't tried that hard, so I guess it's a motivation thing.

BTW, how long to class rings last on a HS grad? Got mine in '74 and only wore it a year or two, but still have it.
Letter jackets and sweaters were a BIG THING in high school when I was growing up.

Just my humble opinion....When they started giving out letters to band members and academic achievers, the "status" symbol of a few, i.e., the jocks, quickly got lost because now "everyone" has a letter jacket/sweater.

Another loss to be politically correct.
I quickly learned when I came here that the Letter Jacket and all of the patches are some of the most treasured items in our school's sports culture. We have to outline our school's criteria for awarding a letter. We also have to get patches order - All Area, All-State, Conference Champs ... Currently, I'm in some hot water because we received Regional Champ Patches and not Sectional Champ Patches. I am innocent. I order the correct patch. I swear I did. No don't ....... (Story to be continued as CoachB25 comes before the hanging judge.)
It was a big deal for sons HS....each sport has their own special jacket type...Son wore his everyday to school...like most his has letters, sport pins and captain pin and uniform number on the sleeve...

Since college it has hung in the closet of my office.....waiting for its turn on the wall....

No player on his college team would wear a HS jacket, but any baseball related T-shirt from camps, PG, HS, pro team, or equipment supplier are everyday wear......
Beenthere,

My first thought was that you're right again Roll Eyes Razz. But then I thought, who ever said that letter jackets were for jocks alone. Personally I think they should be. However, the jacket identifies the school, an extraciricual activity, and an accomplishment. While most of us are old school and run with the athletic blinders on, I think the letter jacket exemplifies "school", "team" and "accomplishment" all of which these groups identify with. What alternative do these "other teams" have?
Last edited by rz1
Letter jackets are very popular at my son's HS. Whether a single or multi sport athelete, everyone wears them. In addition, our school district issues 'academic' letters; a different color from athletic letters, for all students who maintain a 3.75 GPA while carrying a full schedule of core courses. Makes it easy to spot the "student-atheletes". My daughter now wears her brother's jacket to HS sporting events. Even if he wanted to have it at college, there's not many opportunities for a plebe at West Point to wear civis. Big Grin

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