Pesäpallo at the 1952 Summer Olympics

Pesäpallo, the Finnish variant of baseball, was played as a demonstration sport at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, Finland.

The ceremonial first feed, or pitch, was thrown at 18:00 on 31 July by Lauri Pihkala, who had created the sport. The teams playing were the Finnish Baseball Federation and the Finnish Workers' Sports Federation. In a match with a shortened schedule, the Finnish Baseball Federation won 8–4.

Finnish Baseball League (Pesäpalloliitto) roster

• Eino Kaakkolahti, pitcher
• Leo Hannula, 1st baseman
• Viljo Niemi, left fielder
• Olli Hanski, 2nd baseman
• Antti Elomaa, catcher
• Pertti Ahonen, 3rd baseman
• Eero Vuorio, right shortstop
• Toivo Ilola, left shortstop
• Taisto Lehto, right fielder
• Viljo Kokkonen, substitute
• Pertti Jaakkola, substitute
• Eero Vilevaara, substitute

Worker's Athletic Federation (Työväen Urheiluliitto) roster

• Aimo Paavola, pitcher
• Osmo Juntto, 1st baseman
• Onni Sallinen, left fielder
• Jorma Harlin, 2nd baseman
• Reino Hakkarainen, catcher
• Veikko Auersalmi, 3rd baseman
• Pauli Kilpiä, right shortstop
• Paavo Reiju, left shortstop
• Lasse Heikkilä, right fielder
• Pauli Lahtinen, substitute
• Pauli Vainio, substitute
• Oiva Huuskonen, substitute

References

• Cava, Pete (Summer 1992). "Baseball in the Olympics" (PDF). Citius, Altius, Fortius. 1 (1): 7–15.
• Official Report. XV Olympiad Helsinki 1952.
• Bill Mallon, Jeroen Heijmans (2011). Historical Dictionary of the Olympic Movement. p. 297.