Lauri Toikka

(28 July 1912 – 15 December 1966) was a Finnish National League Baseball (Pesäpallo) player and a sports shooter.

Early life Lauri "Putte" Matias Toikka was born in Hamina, located within the Grand Duchy of Finland, an autonomous part of the Russian Empire at the time, now known as Finland. His parents were Matti Toikka, a merchant, and Sievä Toikka (née Järvinen). From a young age, Lauri displayed a keen interest in sports, actively participating in gymnastics and wrestling.

Baseball Toikka played with Haminan Palloilijat throughout the 1930s.

Sports shooting

Toikka was a distinguished figure in Finnish shooting sports, winning the Finnish Championship seven times across various pistol shooting disciplines between 1947 and 1962.

Internationally, Toikka represented Finland in numerous World and European Championships as part of the Finnish Men's Shooting team. His most notable achievements are listed below.

World Championships, men's team:

Silver in 1952, in the 25 meter rapid-fire pistol in Oslo. Bronze in 1954, in the 25 meter rapid-fire pistol in Caracas. Gold in 1954, in the Venezuela Center-fire pistol (Pistola Venezolana) in Caracas.

The Finnish sports shooting team at the 1954 ISSF World Championships in Caracas included Väinö Heusala, Pentti Linnosvuo, Leonard Ravilo, and Toikka. Teams from the United States (gold), Finland (silver), and Argentina (bronze) in the 25-meter rapid fire pistol event at the 1952 ISSF World Championships in Oslo, with Toikka second from the left. The other Finnish pistol team members pictured include Väinö Heusala, Veli-Jussi Hölsö and Leonard Ravilo. European Championship, Men's team:

Silver in 1955, in the 25-meter rapid-fire pistol in Bucharest.

Second World War At the beginning of World War II, Toikka fought in the Winter War in the Battle of Kollaa. During the Continuation War, he served as lieutenant and led a company through several key battles in Virolahti, Ino, Aleksandrowska, Kivennapa, Heinjoki, Kääntymä, Juustila and Kiviniemi. An annual national competition named in his honor was held at the Hamina shooting range from 1967 to 2005.