And the Academy Award — or not — goes to …

Fresh off a record-breaking season for one and simply just another great season for the other, New York Yankees outfielders Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle sign contracts 63 years ago today to, ahem, star in the Columbia Pictures movie Safe at Home!

Filming for this cinematic classic – OK, classic is not the best word here – takes place during spring training in 1962.

Typical formula stuff of movies from the era, especially kids’ movies.

Roger Maris, left, and Mickey Mantle on set

In this case, Maris and Mantle befriend young Hutch Lawson – with child actor Bryan Russell starring in that role – and his Little League teammates.

Sappy? Oh, most definitely.

Memorable? Oh, yes, if nothing else than to watch Maris and Mantle stiffly recite their lines through most of the movie’s 84 minutes of run time.

Alas, when they return to being themselves – you know, All-Star ballplayers – Maris and Mantle do not come close to duplicating in 1962 their success from 1961.

After hitting 61 home runs in 1961 to break Babe Ruth’s single-season record, Maris’ total in 1962 is nearly cut in half with 33 homers.

Bryan Russell in Safe at Home

Same with Mantle as he goes from 54 homers in 1961 to a mere 30 in 1962, a decrease in part due to injuries that shelve him for 39 games.

Mantle only once again reaches 30 homers – 35 in 1964 – over the final six years of his Hall of Fame career.

As for Maris, injuries greatly diminish his power over the final six years of his otherwise excellent career as he totals just 84 homers from 1963-68 after hitting his then-record 61 homers in 1961 and following that with 33 more in 1962.

As for the young thespian, Bryan Russell, he continues a modest career in Hollywood that includes roles in Bye Bye Birdie and Emil and the Detectives.

He ends his acting career at the age of 15 in Disney’s 1967 forgettable Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin.