Scoring points in first fantasy football league Circuit began in Oakland in 1963

Originally published on Sept. 12, 2003

GEORGE BLANDA or Jim Brown.

That was the choice Andrew Mousalimas ' team had with the No. 1 pick in the 1963 draft.

Yep, 1963.

"We thought Blanda all the way," Mousalimas said. "You have to remember, they threw touchdowns like crazy in the old AFL. "

 Mousalimas was a member of the Greater Oakland Professional Pigskin Prognosticators League, the first fantasy league in history, as confirmed by research done by the preseason publication Fantasy Football Pro Forecast (www.fspnet.com).

"We ran a story in 1991 that discussed it, and nobody has come out with anything [disputing it]," said Emil Kadlec, the magazine's publisher and editor-in-chief. "Certainly, if somebody had some documentation or something that could show us somebody earlier, that would be great. "

The late Bill Wickenbach was the commissioner of the GOPPPL, an eight-member league that also included former Packers general manager Ron Wolf. Kadlec also found evidence that Wickenbach began a rotisserie baseball league in 1959 that is still going today.

Wickenbach, an Oakland businessman with financial ties in the Raiders at the time, passed away in 1993.

The 1963 draft was held in Wickenbach's basement. They played for money and bragging rights and gave a trophy for ineptness. At postseason banquets years later, they invited the wives and served prime rib. These guys were good.

"It was really special," reflected Mousalimas , 78. "Just like today. We had the same emotions. We knew it was something special. "

Most of GOPPPL's original rules were similar to what most leagues use today, except that a monetary system was used instead of points. Rushing touchdowns were worth 50 cents and field goals, passing and receiving touchdowns earned 25 cents. Blanda was used as a quarterback for Mousalimas ' team and a kicker on another squad.

"I saw the first 49er game in 1950 and the first Raider game in 1960, so I'm at the point where I may not watch a full game anymore," he said. "But there are people, because of fantasy, that are going to watch and root for their players.

"I'm not surprised by how popular it has become. I've noticed, especially in the last 20 years, how this has caught on. It's amazing. "