Lauri Pihkala

A 1988 postage stamp commemorating the 100th anniversary of the birth of Lauri "Tahko" Pihkala.

Lauri "Tahko" Pihkala (January 5, 1888, Pihtipudas – May 20, 1981), (surname Gummerus until 1906), was the inventor of pesäpallo, the Finnish variant of baseball. In 1969 he became one of the first persons to receive an honorary doctorate in Sport Sciences from the University of Jyväskylä, together with president Urho Kekkonen and Professor Kaarina Kari.

Pihkala competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics and ranked 16th in the high jump competition. He also participated in the discus throw event but his result is unknown. Pihkala attended the 1912 Summer Olympics but he was eliminated in the first round of the 800 metres competition.

Pihkala was known for being an avid sports fan, and he developed several outdoor games.

During the Finnish Civil War he was responsible for propaganda in the White Guard flying unit "Devils of Kuhmoinen" of major Hans Kalm.

Pihkala was also a right-wing political activist, being a supporter of eugenics as a means to improve the military prowess of the Finnish people.

External links

• Lauri Pihkala in 375 humanists 6.1.2015, Faculty of Arts, University of Helsinki
• List of Finnish athletes 1906–1912