1964 Fantasy Astrology Recap
View the 1964 FABL Lineups Here!
Going reverse-chronologically, 1964 marks the start of a new half-decade. And what better way to celebrate the occasion than with a Fantasy Astrology season where the four division winners are the same, even when you follow positional eligibility rules to the letter. These types of finishes will likely become fewer and farther between as we move backwards in history, and the number of MLB teams continues to shrink. But all we can do is enjoy them when they occur, and push this project as far back as we possibly can.
As would be the case in the following year, Leo was the team to beat in 1964, thanks to a roster anchored by the league’s top overall scoring player. Don Drysdale (3,501 / 87.5) didn’t win 20 games in 1964, but he was in year three of a four year stretch where he led the National League in games started, reaching 40 each time. In contrast, his real-life Dodgers teammate Sandy Koufax (3,074 / 106.0), a Capricorn, started only 28 games due to arm trouble, but still reached the coveted 3,000-point plateau. Leo’s top closer Hoyt Wilhelm (2,380 / 32.6) didn’t quite measure up to the best relief pitcher in the league – that would be Aries Dick Radatz (2,908 / 36.8). But Wilhelm’s 1.99 ERA over 131 relief innings at age 41 is a tremendous accomplishment.
Taurus does not often lead the Earth Division in fantasy points – the last time it happened (reverse-chronologically speaking) was 1977. This title was followed by a decade-long drought (when they won in 1986 and ’87) … and then they wouldn’t end up on top again until 2006 (when they again won two years in a row). But everything went right for the Bulls in 1964. In addition to Willie Mays (2,847 / 18.1), the league’s top-scoring batter and one of the best professional athletes of all-time, Taurus also sported the two real-life league MVP’s, who also each happen to play third base: Ken Boyer (2,317 / 14.3) of the Cardinals and Brooks Robinson (2,276 / 14.o) on the Orioles. In addition, White Sox ace Gary Peters (2,835 / 76.6) was the number two scorer in the NP (behind only Koufax), leading a rotation with four 2,000-point scorers.
Air Division leading Libra also had four 2,000-pointers in their rotation, although one of them also reached 3,000: newly acquired Phillies ace Jim Bunning (3,132 / 76.4). Along with Juan Marichal (2,958 / 89.6) and Whitey Ford (2,711 / 69.5) in their primes, plus an aging Robin Roberts (1,737 / 56.0), the Scales promise to have one of the most formidable pitching staffs for many more reverse-chronological years to come. On the offensive side, Mickey Mantle (2,306 / 16.1) provides more than enough offensive firepower to support a staff of this magnitude, and their attack will only get better as we head backwards into the primes of Hall of Fame third baseman Eddie Matthews (1,600 / 11.3) and Dodger speedster Maury Wills (1,633 / 10.3).
Pisces once again takes the crown in the Water Division, as Cancer’s great offense and Scorpio’s great pitching remain one-sided attributes. Like Taurus, the Fish had their offensive strength clustered around third base, with real-life Rookie of the Year Dick Allen (2,482 / 15.3) pairing with Gold Glover Ron Santo (2,475 / 15.4) at the hot corner. (Incidentally, Allen wouldn’t even win the RoY in the Fantasy Astrology league, losing out to Cancer Crab outfielder Tony Oliva (2,554 / 15.9). And on the mound, the Yankees’ SP2 Jim Bouton (2,445 / 64.3) leads a competent-enough pitching staff to take the crown.
Rounding out the award winners I haven’t mentioned yet, Gemini outfielder Billy Williams (2,419 / 14.9) would have to share the Positive Polarity MVP award with Aquarian slugger Henry Aaron (2,412 / 16.6), on account of their nearly-identical point totals on the year. Sticking with Aquarius, 19-year-old Wally Bunker (2,238 / 77.2) would take the Positive Rookie of the Year trophy, with Sagittarian reliever Bob Lee (2,108 / 32.9) next in line. And while Virgo legend Gaylord Perry (2,135 / 48.5) technically counts as a reliever, since he started fewer than half his games, 19 starts out of 44 appearances puts him more in utility-pitcher territory. The top Negative dedicated reliever was Pirates closer Al McBean (1,638 / 28.2), who would finish games for the NP-leading Taurus Bulls.