Letterman Jacket

In 1865, the Harvard baseball team added an Old English "H". The "H" was embroidered on the gray flannel shirt. The football team started to use the "H" in 1875. It is interesting to note that for 25 years following the introduction in 1865 of the letter, it was the practice for the team captain to allow certain players who played in the most important games (Yale or Princeton) to keep the "H" jerseys as an award. If a player did not play in an important game, the player had to return the jersey at the end of the season. Awarding the "H" jersey may have been the birth of the varsity letter as an award. The letterman sweater was first regularly used by the 1891 "H" (baseball) and was black with a small Crimson "H" on the left breast.

Varsity letterman jackets gained popularity in the early part of the 20th century, and they had transformed to wool jackets with leather sleeves by 1930. Varsity letters are typically handed out to upperclassmen (juniors and seniors). Letterman jackets are often adorned with a school mascot, school name, various letters and even pins. Letters and numerals of the year of graduation are awarded for the first year of participation in a sport, with pins given for each subsequent year.