HS Varsity Jackets

Never heard of badges.   Back in my day (40 years ago) once you "Lettered" you would get a pin for every year/team  you made varsity or any special athletic event.   I don't remember any "badges" per say.

FoxDad posted:

Never heard of badges.   Back in my day (40 years ago) once you "Lettered" you would get a pin for every year/team  you made varsity or any special athletic event.   I don't remember any "badges" per say.

This still happens today in our district.  No extra badges for my kids that made varsity as freshman.  There were pins for each additional year and for other awards such as all star.  Not sure if a freshman badge is something that's needed.  Reminds me of the year that Jason Varitek wore a "C" on his jersey to designate him being named captain.  

We have been involved in four high schools so I have seen it all.  What some are calling badges may be the stripes on the sleeves that some use to dictate how many years you made varsity almost like military.  Others use the pins for each year.  My youngest son made varsity as a freshman in three sports so we bought the jacket and began putting stuff on it.  He made all conference, district and state as a freshman so we put that on there.  Added academic honors and chorus.  Then the next year he did so as well but you have to buy new patches to have the new info added and have it re-sewn.  Then we moved schools,  made new stuff and got a new letter but we have decided he will just keep the old jacket.  He made basketball all region here this year along with all region, all district, and all state.  He now has all this stuff he could put on a jacket or jackets.  He wore his old one here his junior year and no one cared because they knew his story.  Trying to figure out what to do in the long run but he never put it on this year as he only goes to school half a day.  It can get very complicated and expensive when you start adding awards.  Good luck.  Ask around at your school and look around at what the guys do.  I will say that I have learned what girls do on theirs and guys do on theirs is not the same at the same school.  Some sports are different.  I know one school that has a special jacket for football, basketball, and baseball.  I can't imagine how expensive that would be for a three sport athlete.  Football started it by winning state and someone bought them rings and a jacket.  Just one more of those added high school costs that no one expects.

We were lucky. At my younger son's school I only ever saw one baseball player wear a letter jacket for baseball and our son showed zero interest. Mostly it was football players who wore them, and the main purpose seemed to be wearing them to games when they returned to school as a grad.  Likewise with basketball -- nobody wore them.  A few wrestlers too but that's about it.  Same story at our elder boy's school in the same town.  At a neighboring school all of the baseball players had them, so I guess the culture varies from school to school, not just by region.

Varsity jackets are not even a thing at my kids HS.  Some kids do purchase them, but I would say 85% of them do not.

At my kid's school no one wears letter jackets.  They just aren't in.  I've seen one or two mom's wear them to football games over the years but that's it.  The athletes get letters (and "badges" for all-league, etc) but they go in a box in their bedroom.

I can tell you this – if I go to our local diner on a Friday night, it’s packed with HS kids.  And, a lot of them are wearing their Varsity jackets.  And, I’ve seen this on the weekends in neighboring towns if we go out for a bite to eat somewhere.  So, kids are wearing them – at least around by me.  Personally, I think the Jackets are a lot like the school rings and yearbooks.  The kids will say they don’t want it.  And, for sure, they won’t touch it once they graduate.  But, you don’t want to be the one not to get it when everyone else is doing it.  And, therefore, you get it.  On our current Varsity baseball team, we only have 3 kids who are returning.  And, two of the three have varsity jackets.  (The other one was a transfer in last year.  So, maybe he was waiting to see if he was going to stick around?)  There’s probably going to be around 13 first time varsity baseball players on the team this spring.  And, knowing a lot of the parents, I would bet that many of them are going to be spring for the jackets.

Francis7 posted:

I can tell you this – if I go to our local diner on a Friday night, it’s packed with HS kids.  And, a lot of them are wearing their Varsity jackets.  And, I’ve seen this on the weekends in neighboring towns if we go out for a bite to eat somewhere.  So, kids are wearing them – at least around by me.  Personally, I think the Jackets are a lot like the school rings and yearbooks.  The kids will say they don’t want it.  And, for sure, they won’t touch it once they graduate.  But, you don’t want to be the one not to get it when everyone else is doing it.  And, therefore, you get it.  On our current Varsity baseball team, we only have 3 kids who are returning.  And, two of the three have varsity jackets.  (The other one was a transfer in last year.  So, maybe he was waiting to see if he was going to stick around?)  There’s probably going to be around 13 first time varsity baseball players on the team this spring.  And, knowing a lot of the parents, I would bet that many of them are going to be spring for the jackets.

Do the waitresses at Al’s serve on roller skates?

Our high school gave out letters and award patches. The families were on their own to purchase the jackets. There was a local store that supplied school related items.  

I never saw a jacket except mothers wearing their son’s jackets at football games. My kids stuck letters and patches on cork board over their desks in their rooms.

RJM posted:

Francis7 posted:

I can tell you this – if I go to our local diner on a Friday night, it’s packed with HS kids.  And, a lot of them are wearing their Varsity jackets.  And, I’ve seen this on the weekends in neighboring towns if we go out for a bite to eat somewhere.  So, kids are wearing them – at least around by me.  Personally, I think the Jackets are a lot like the school rings and yearbooks.  The kids will say they don’t want it.  And, for sure, they won’t touch it once they graduate.  But, you don’t want to be the one not to get it when everyone else is doing it.  And, therefore, you get it.  On our current Varsity baseball team, we only have 3 kids who are returning.  And, two of the three have varsity jackets.  (The other one was a transfer in last year.  So, maybe he was waiting to see if he was going to stick around?)  There’s probably going to be around 13 first time varsity baseball players on the team this spring.  And, knowing a lot of the parents, I would bet that many of them are going to be spring for the jackets.

Do the waitresses at Al’s serve on roller skates?

Lol. Nothing wrong with living in a town that still has a small town feel!

Small Town Texas here, just outside of a big city. In my area it is hard to find a varsity sports player without a V jacket. Most of the towns in my area, take great pride in their schools and their sports. 

I actually have my HS and College Varsity jackets from back in the 80s.  Too bad they don't still fit. 

Francis7 posted:

RJM posted:

Francis7 posted:

I can tell you this – if I go to our local diner on a Friday night, it’s packed with HS kids.  And, a lot of them are wearing their Varsity jackets.  And, I’ve seen this on the weekends in neighboring towns if we go out for a bite to eat somewhere.  So, kids are wearing them – at least around by me.  Personally, I think the Jackets are a lot like the school rings and yearbooks.  The kids will say they don’t want it.  And, for sure, they won’t touch it once they graduate.  But, you don’t want to be the one not to get it when everyone else is doing it.  And, therefore, you get it.  On our current Varsity baseball team, we only have 3 kids who are returning.  And, two of the three have varsity jackets.  (The other one was a transfer in last year.  So, maybe he was waiting to see if he was going to stick around?)  There’s probably going to be around 13 first time varsity baseball players on the team this spring.  And, knowing a lot of the parents, I would bet that many of them are going to be spring for the jackets.

Do the waitresses at Al’s serve on roller skates?

Lol. Nothing wrong with living in a town that still has a small town feel!

You’re located fifty years from NYC?

joes87 posted:

I actually have my HS and College Varsity jackets from back in the 80s.  Too bad they don't still fit. 

I have both and they fit. They’re gathering dust in the back of the closet. I don’t know why I keep them. But, if I did wear them the existing letters would have to be replaced with “L”. Maybe just stick the L on my forehead.

RJM posted:

joes87 posted:

I actually have my HS and College Varsity jackets from back in the 80s.  Too bad they don't still fit. 

I have both and they fit. They’re gathering dust in the back of the closet. I don’t know why I keep them. But, if I did wear them the existing letters would have to be replaced with “L”. Maybe just stick the L on my forehead.

My wife tried to throw mine out a few years back and I would not let her.  Same thing, not sure why, but just can't give them up.

I will agree it is a school or area thing.  Here, they do not wear them as much as they did in Missouri.  There, the kids would leave their lockers open and hang them on their locker door and no one stole them.  It was a big deal so we went along with it.  My other two sons have never worn them and they are actually at my house.  We keep trying to get them to take them home but they don't leave.  I have actually threatened to sell them to incoming freshmen.  

RJM posted:

Francis7 posted:

I can tell you this – if I go to our local diner on a Friday night, it’s packed with HS kids.  And, a lot of them are wearing their Varsity jackets.  And, I’ve seen this on the weekends in neighboring towns if we go out for a bite to eat somewhere.  So, kids are wearing them – at least around by me.  Personally, I think the Jackets are a lot like the school rings and yearbooks.  The kids will say they don’t want it.  And, for sure, they won’t touch it once they graduate.  But, you don’t want to be the one not to get it when everyone else is doing it.  And, therefore, you get it.  On our current Varsity baseball team, we only have 3 kids who are returning.  And, two of the three have varsity jackets.  (The other one was a transfer in last year.  So, maybe he was waiting to see if he was going to stick around?)  There’s probably going to be around 13 first time varsity baseball players on the team this spring.  And, knowing a lot of the parents, I would bet that many of them are going to be spring for the jackets.

Do the waitresses at Al’s serve on roller skates?

Raise your hand if you are old and got RJM's reference. 

I'm in Iowa. NO one wears a varsity jacket. They get a certificate when they letter, and then bars to put on the letter (along with additional certificates saying "varsity, second year" etc.

The kids can go in and get a physical letter from the athletic office but our experience was that the moms got the letters before graduation cause we needed a place to stick all the pins at the grad parties.

Our school is small enough (grad classes of maybe 250?) that if you're on varsity in any sport, people know it.

Well, Go44, I would raise my hand but it hurts my shoulder to do that.  We ARE old - funny, the Fonz now looks like he could be Al's dad.

Yeah, our area is pretty much zip on the letterman's jackets and you can guess by watching the moms at the games which of the very few kids will own them.  But two hours east, totally different story.  You see them quite a bit.  

That said, Francis,  your comment is completely foreign to my thought process...

"Personally, I think the Jackets are a lot like the school rings and yearbooks.  The kids will say they don’t want it.  And, for sure, they won’t touch it once they graduate.  But, you don’t want to be the one not to get it when everyone else is doing it.  And, therefore, you get it."

A. - if the kid doesn't want something, why the heck spend good money on it if it isn't necessary?  B. - are you really going to be worried about your kid not doing something (or having something) that everyone else is doing?  That is the LAST reason I would use to rationalize a purchase or activity.  And I would sure hope my kid can think for himself as well.  

Sorry.  Soapbox.  To each his own.  Call your local team dealer that sells them.  They will know the program inside and out for each school.

Go44dad posted:

RJM posted:

Francis7 posted:

I can tell you this – if I go to our local diner on a Friday night, it’s packed with HS kids.  And, a lot of them are wearing their Varsity jackets.  And, I’ve seen this on the weekends in neighboring towns if we go out for a bite to eat somewhere.  So, kids are wearing them – at least around by me.  Personally, I think the Jackets are a lot like the school rings and yearbooks.  The kids will say they don’t want it.  And, for sure, they won’t touch it once they graduate.  But, you don’t want to be the one not to get it when everyone else is doing it.  And, therefore, you get it.  On our current Varsity baseball team, we only have 3 kids who are returning.  And, two of the three have varsity jackets.  (The other one was a transfer in last year.  So, maybe he was waiting to see if he was going to stick around?)  There’s probably going to be around 13 first time varsity baseball players on the team this spring.  And, knowing a lot of the parents, I would bet that many of them are going to be spring for the jackets.

Do the waitresses at Al’s serve on roller skates?

Raise your hand if you are old and got RJM's reference. 

 

Hey, hey, hey! Not old. Old enough.

not a thing at our HS. Too bad... a local store has them, and they look fantastic.

Damn Ralph Malph.

I want to thank you guys for not making me the oldest guy in the room. That's so rare for me these days!

joes87 posted:

I actually have my HS and College Varsity jackets from back in the 80s.  Too bad they don't still fit. 

LOL!  I also still have my HS varsity jacket from the late 70's.  No, it doesn't fit and hasn't for sometime.

I had not seen a kid wear a letter jacket around here in years.  Then a few weeks ago I noticed some volleyball girls wearing them. Now, the football players have all ordered them.  They look really sharp.

The “do kids wear varsity jackets” conversation reminds me of an amusing circumstance in my family. The roles were reversed. I knew what sports season it was by the sweats my daughter wore every day. My son was a fashionista even in high school. He wouldn’t wear blue jeans in high school nor will he wear them as a middle 20’s adult. 

Lettermen's jackets were a big deal when I was in HS, mid '70s in our town of 12 high schools. Everyone had one who had lettered.  Sons' HS, different town not to mention different age,  the only kids who have them are the cheerleaders.  As someone mentioned above the letters are in a box in the closet.

When I was in HS, letter jackets were very popular (so were quill pens and whale oil lamps... I am old).  My oldest graduated a couple of years ago and I never saw a letter jacket during her years in school.  She played multiple sports, but just put her letters on a corkboard did not mention doing anything else with them.  My son is a 2020 and shocked me this fall by asking to order a letter jacket (same HS as his sister, only a couple of years younger than she is).  I didn't even know the school offered them, but apparently the jackets are starting to come back in style here.  You order online--the seller contacts the school to verify that you lettered.  School just hands out letters (and bars for additional years on varsity).  The price was pretty reasonable and the jacket looks good.  Son hardly ever wears a coat (ah, to be young again); but when he does, the letter jacket is his go-to.

Chico Escuela posted:

When I was in HS, letter jackets were very popular (so were quill pens and whale oil lamps... I am old).  My oldest graduated a couple of years ago and I never saw a letter jacket during her years in school.  She played multiple sports, but just put her letters on a corkboard did not mention doing anything else with them.  My son is a 2020 and shocked me this fall by asking to order a letter jacket (same HS as his sister, only a couple of years younger than she is).  I didn't even know the school offered them, but apparently the jackets are starting to come back in style here.  You order online--the seller contacts the school to verify that you lettered.  School just hands out letters (and bars for additional years on varsity).  The price was pretty reasonable and the jacket looks good.  Son hardly ever wears a coat (ah, to be young again); but when he does, the letter jacket is his go-to.

I think they are starting to come back around.  You made a good point about not wearing a coat. Hoodies replaced jackets and coats around here since my kid was in elementary school.  

If they’re coming back or, in some places, never went away, 😎!! The look is classic and the more ornaments the better !

Just thought of why they might not be  a big deal in my neck of the ocean: they’re not exactly suited for balmy weather. 

smokeminside posted:

If they’re coming back or, in some places, never went away, 😎!! The look is classic and the more ornaments the better !

Just thought of why they might not be  a big deal in my neck of the ocean: they’re not exactly suited for balmy weather. 

Yeah, Smoke, definitely a factor here as well.  You rarely see young people wear a jacket that heavy, period.  Winter is sweatshirt weather.