What Are Letterman Jackets?

Michael J. Fox wore a letterman jacket in the 1980s' movie "Teen Wolf," in which he played a slam-dunking werewolf basketball player. Like Fox's character, people are awarded letterman jackets for their outstanding athletic performance in high school and college.

Function

The cloth letters on letterman jackets, and often the jackets themselves, are awarded to high school and college athletes or marching-band members who have achieved a measurable level of performance.

Gender

Letterman jackets are gender-neutral. They are referred to as such whether awarded to a man or a woman.

Identification

Letterman jackets are made of wool, and usually display the first letter or initials of the school awarding the jacket. They often contain the student's last name and graduation year as well.

History

According to the "Leather Sleeves Newsletter," the Varsity Leather Award Society's (VLAS) home page, the tradition of letterman jackets can be traced back to the late 19th century, when the Harvard baseball team allowed players who played in the most-important games to keep jerseys embroidered with an "H."

Fun Fact

According to an article in the "Los Angeles Times," people sometimes wear letterman jackets as a fashion statement. They have retro appeal and remind people of their youth.

References

• Leather Sleeves: History of the Letter-Award Tradition
• "Los Angeles Times": They're Too Cool for Just School

Resources

• University of Southern California: Miller Fong Receives His 1959 Letterman's Jacket