Lauri "Tahko" Pihkala
Humanist of the day

Lauri "Tahko" Pihkala

Lauri ”Tahko” (‘grindstone’) Pihkala is known as the man behind the Finnish national sport, Finnish baseball. And it’s thanks to Pihkala that schoolchildren’s annual week-long skiing holidays and the idea of sports institutes arrived in Finland. Pihkala recognised the philosophical dimension of exercise and its role in galvanising the entire nation.

Lauri "Tahko" Pihkala

Born 5 January 1888, Pihtipudas. Died 20 May 1981, Helsinki

Candidate of Philosophy 1912 ( i.e. MPhil. in economics, history of the Nordic countries, Latin and practical philosophy) from the Imperial Alexander University

Awarded title of honorary professor 1948 (granted by the President)
Awarded title of honorary doctor 1969, University of Jyväskylä.

Seminal figure in sports, author and chief editor.

Photo: Suomen Urheilumuseo
Author: Tero Juutilainen
Translated by: Mira Apell, Susan Huotari, Anna-Maria Jukarainen, Saara Suominen, Laura Mena, Hilda Tuomisto. Revised by: John Calton.

The Man behind Finnish baseball

Lauri “Tahko” (‘grindstone’) Pihkala is especially commemorated for his work in developing Finnish baseball. Finnish baseball is often compared to American baseball, and with good reason. As it happens, Pihkala visited the United States in 1907 and got to watch a local game of baseball. It is said that Pihkala had wondered how people had the patience to watch such a boring game over several hours.

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The practical philosopher

Lauri “Tahko” Pihkala is remembered as a practical man. But his thoughts on the nature of sports and exercise have usually received scant attention. His studies in the Imperial Alexander University had included philosophy and history, and his study trips to the United States had undoubtedly affected his outlook.

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