Paul Kutch: the Clemente Collector
By Tab Bamford
CHICAGO – Fans who attended the National Sports Collectors Convention (NSCC) outside Chicago were treated to thousands of unique pieces of baseball history and memorabilia. From rookie cards to autographs, anything a baseball fan could imagine was available for a price.
In the middle of it all was a corner where fans of Roberto Clemente were in baseball heaven.
Paul Kutch Jr., the owner of Clemente’s Clubhouse, has one of the most impressive collections of Clemente artifacts and memorabilia anywhere. He isn’t old enough to remember a lot of Clemente’s playing career, but, like so many other fans, his love and appreciation for the legacy of The Great One lives through his collection.
Kutch’s father grew up in Mammoth, PA, a small town about ten minutes from Latrobe. His father was a Pirates fan who served in the military. Clemente’s abilities on the field drew him in, but his work off the field is what cemented his fandom.
Kutch wasn’t born in Pennsylvania, though. His father’s job took him to Stuttgart, Germany, where is son was born. A typical military family, Paul moved a few times before eventually settling back in Delaware since he was in first grade.
Where they lived didn’t change the Kutch family’s love of the Pirates or Clemente.
“I inherited my Pirates fandom,” he said. “As a kid, I wrote a report about [Clemente] since he played for my favorite team. He became my favorite player because of that. As I got back into collecting memorabilia I gained a more true respect for what Roberto stood for and decided to model my life in the manner that Roberto did.
“My love and respect for him grows stronger every day.”
Kutch started to purchase unique artifacts associated with his favorite player. In time, his relationship with Clemente’s legacy took on a different perspective. Today, he not only collects Clemente but also has a personal relationship with the Clemente family.
“I have been good friends with the Clemente family since meeting them [at FanFest at the All-Star Game] in 1994,” he said.
Kutch now works with the Roberto Clemente Foundation. He has volunteered time and memorabilia to auctions and has helped support their fundraising efforts.
Over the past 35 years Kutch’s personal collection has included pieces from the Clemente family’s estate and other incredible items. One of the items is a beautiful career ring that includes black onyx and diamonds set in gold – the Pirates’ colors.
“[The company] was going to make 200 of them,” he said. “It has a lot of his career highlights on it. His name, his rookie year and his final year, as well as his 3,000th hit and his batting titles. And then on the other side it has his Gold Gloves [and] MVP award from 1966. They were produced in around 1999.”
Kutch also shared a ball signed by Clemente and other stars of the Puerto Rican winter league from the 1960s, a unique collectible bat from Hillerich & Bradsby Company, the original parent company of Louisville Slugger. He also owns shoes that were produced in Puerto Rico with Clemente’s name and signature on the back. Another vendor at the NSCC had a pair of those shoes for sale. They bought them from Kutch years prior.
Kutch’s collection at the NSCC was made up mostly of duplicate items. He wasn’t making most of his personal collection available.
He has started to include his sons in the family business. The ring was notable enough that his sons talked him into bringing the ring with them to the show even though it isn’t for sale.
“They’re not getting this one,” he laughed.
Featured Image: La Vida Baseball
Inset Image: La Vida Baseball