California vanity plate coveted by college football lovers could fetch millions: Diehard fans would give anything

Forget a signed jersey or championship ring, one of the most coveted pieces of USC memorabilia may be sitting on the back of a fishing truck.A California license plate reading simply “USC” is being offered for sale, and its owners believe the ultra-rare plate could command $675,000 or more, potentially making it one of the most expensive license plates ever sold in the United States.The plate is set to be featured on USC’s official social media platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, on Aug.31, according to Mark Magdaleno, who is helping market the plate.

The sellers say they are aiming for a record-setting sale and will also consider the best offer.“Diehard USC fans would give anything to have that plate on their vehicle,” former owner Mike Stone told the Daily Trojan.If that happens, it would shatter records.One of the priciest USC pieces of memorabilia to ever be sold is Charles White’s Heisman Trophy, which went for nearly $300,000 in December 2006, per ESPN.However, the story behind this three-letter plate is almost as intriguing as its potential price tag.The plate dates back to 1970, when California first began allowing motorists to create personalized license plates.

James Stone Sr.chose “USC” to celebrate his family’s longtime connection to the University of Southern California, per the Daily Trojan.The plate remained with the Stone family for more than five decades before Stone eventually sold it to longtime friend Jeff Grotewold.Grotewold, 63, had coveted the plate for years.

Once he finally got his hands on it, he slapped it on his 1992 Chevrolet Suburban, which he uses as his fishing truck.Then he decided the little piece of California history might be worth a whole lot more than a fishing trip.“I was in no hurry [to sell],” Grotewold told the outlet.“I put it on my ’92 Suburban, which is my fishing truck.

Philanthropy is great, but, in the end, I’m a businessman that has to pay bills, and so I looked at it as a busi...