Baseball 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

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* [http://www.aafla.org/6oic/OfficialReports/1952/OR1952.pdf Official Report] . XV Olympiad Helsinki 1952.