{"product_id":"rare-vintage-tcu-block-t-letterman-s-jacket","title":"RARE! Player Issued TCU Block T Vintage Style Letterman Sweater","description":"\u003cp\u003eRARE Athlete awarded TCU letterman sweater! The last several years athletes were awarded these sweaters instead of leather sleeved jackets. Wonderful details include large chenille T patch with embroidered TCU logo. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMore history \u0026amp; info from Varisty Made about lettermans:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA letterman is a student who has earned a varsity letter for excelling in sports, academics, or other school activities. To become a letterman, a student must meet specific performance or participation requirements set by the school or team.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 id=\"heading-6\"\u003eWhich name is older, varsity or letterman jacket?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAccording to several sources, the term “letterman jackets” is relatively older in usage than “varsity jackets”. However, both have been used interchangeably across centuries, and are equally common in modern age as well.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLetterman jackets were originally called letterman sweaters. They were actually pullover sweaters made for team Harvard with letter “H” sewn on them.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 id=\"heading-7\"\u003eWhen were letterman jackets invented?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLetterman jackets originated in 1865 at Harvard University. They began as knitted sweaters with a large letter “H” sewn on them. These were awarded to Harvard’s baseball team and represented the school or team. Over time, these sweaters evolved into the leather-sleeved jackets we recognize today.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKey Milestones in Letterman Jacket History\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e1865 (Origin):\u003c\/strong\u003e Harvard’s baseball team wore thick sweaters with a large “H” to show achievement. Only top players got to keep them.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLate 1800s (Spread):\u003c\/strong\u003e Other Ivy League schools and sports adopt the tradition. As a result, lettered sweaters became more common.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEarly 1900s (Evolution):\u003c\/strong\u003e Sweaters evolve into wool jackets with leather sleeves and chenille letters. These jackets became a classic style.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e1930s-1950s (Popularization):\u003c\/strong\u003e Jackets become standard for US varsity athletes and, after World War II, an iconic symbol of American school culture.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Fans Vintage","offers":[{"title":"Adult Small","offer_id":53702688506069,"sku":null,"price":275.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0641\/6167\/7525\/files\/CDDE18E3-6E1A-4C47-84DD-F78AE2326D37.jpg?v=1776878831","url":"https:\/\/fansvintage.com\/products\/rare-vintage-tcu-block-t-letterman-s-jacket","provider":"Fans Vintage","version":"1.0","type":"link"}