Richie Cunningham often wore a varsity jacket on Happy Days. However, I do not think Archie ever wore a varsity jacket in the 1950s, although they certainly existed at that time. When was the first time Archie wore a varsity jacket. I am thinking it is not until at least the 1970s, maybe even the 1980s.
They used to be "Varsity Sweaters.
Jackets came later.
Archie was still wearing the sweater with the R on it well into the 1980s. I did find what looks like it may be a letter jacket on the cover of Archie at Riverdale High #70 from 1980. It's got the R on it at least. There may very well have been earlier appearances, but I just did a cursory glance at the covers of a few titles.
(https://www.archiefans.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.goblinscavern.com%2Fcomicimages%2Farchie%2Farchie_at_riverdale_high_70.jpg&hash=0fc313366ba6949347b45d74f8f054b1ffa7bb8d)
He's had it (jacket or sweater, doesn't matter) sometime in the 2000s, or even the 2010s, hasn't he? I could have sworn, somewhere. Of course it's not consistent or anything, it's just a whenever-type thing, right?
The Varsity sweater has been a mainstay on covers since Archie #1. I can't think of many instances of his wearing a Varsity jacket. Glad Rusty found one example.
Here's another example from Archie Giant Series #601 - October 1989
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/611%2Bo0LFLAL._SX332_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg)
Wasn't that sweater/vest thing he wore in the 50s considered a varsity sweater?
I was only referring to varsity jackets. I knew about the varsity sweater.