Pesäpallo at the 1952 Summer Olympics
Baseball returned as a demonstration sport for the third time at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, Finland. The game played was actually a variant of the sport called Finnish baseball or "pesäpallo".
The ceremonial first feed, or pitch, was thrown at 6 p.m. on 31 July by Lauri Pihkala, who had created the sport. The teams playing were the Finnish Baseball Federation and the Worker's Athletic Federation. In a match with a shortened schedule, the Finnish Baseball Federation won 8-4.
Finnish Baseball League roster
- Eino Kaakkolahti, feeder
- Leo Hannula, 1st base
- Viljo Niemi, infielder
- Olli Hanski, 2nd base
- Antti Elomaa, wicket-keeper
- Pertti Ahonen, 3rd base
- Eero Vuorio, extra 2nd base
- Toivo Ilola, extra 3rd base
- Taisto Lehto, outfielder
- Viljo Kokkonen, substitute
- Pertti Jaakkola, substitute
- Eero Vilevaara, substitute
Worker's Athletic Federation roster
- Aimo Paavola, pitcher
- Osmo Juntto, 1st base
- Onni Sallinen, left fielder
- Jorma Harlin, 2nd base
- Reino Hakkarainen, catcher
- Veikko Auersalmi, 3rd base
- Pauli Kilpiä, 2nd stop
- Paavo Reiju, 3rd stop
- Lasse Heikkilä, right fielder
- Pauli Lahtinen, substitute
- Pauli Vainio, substitute
- Oiva Huuskonen, substitute
References
- Cava, Pete (1992). "Baseball in the Olympics" (PDF). Citius, Altius, Fortius. 1 (1): 7–15.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - Official Report. XV Olympiad Helsinki 1952.
