Jukka Ropponen named new President of the Finnish Baseball and Softball Federation

Jukka Ropponen named new President of the Finnish Baseball and Softball Federation
31/08/2020
The new President is member No. 1 of the Finnish Baseball Hall of Fame and has been a top ice-hockey coach. A new development plan is expected to be announced by the end of September.

The governing body of baseball and softball in Finland (PPL, Pesäpallo Liitto**) has named Jukka Ropponen as the President of the Finnish Baseball and Softball Federation (SBSL, Suomen Baseball ja Softball Liitto) for the next three years. Incumbent President Tony Jones will continue to serve as SBSL Director of Game Officials. Ville Saarman was confirmed as Secretary-General.

Ropponen was named as member No. 1 of the Finnish Baseball Hall of Fame in 2019. He played in Sweden before the game was officially introduced to Finland in 1981 and served as the first President of the Finland Federation in 1981 and 1982. He was a perennial winner of the best pitcher award in Finland and won seven national titles.

Ropponen has also been a top ice hockey goalie coach. He won four European Championships, two Finnish national titles and two Swiss Championships.

Born in 1959, Ropponen is an expert in international business, internationalisation and international growth.

"I am truly privileged to have the honour to serve our great game and aid its growth in Finland together with soon to be announced new board," Ropponen said. "The time is right for baseball and softball to start growing not just the number of players, but also the level of play in our country."

The new development plan will be announced by SBSL by the end of September with the goal to increase the number of licensed players by at least six-fold, build several new facilities and start a solid youth program.


** PPL is the National Federation of pesäpallo, a fast-moving bat-and-ball sport and the national sport of Finland. The Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture recommended in 2013 that smaller sports organized their operations under larger national federations in order to make governance easier. That's why SBSL became a part of PPL.

The Competition Committee of PPL names the President and the Board of SBSL for a three-year term.