Jimmy Bailey of North Weymouth, Massachusetts, Cameron "Bud" Prescott of Athens, Georgia, and Bobby Mangino of Yonkers, New York don't have geography in common when they meet in 1972 in Jamestown, New York. What they share is a love of baseball and a commitment to become Major League Baseball players. They're away from home for the first time in their lives and must adjust to getting along with other players from around the country, as well as coaches who tell them what to do every minute of the day.

Jimmy has the added pressure that his father had been a minor league player right after World War II and had the chance to move into professional baseball. He gave it all up, though, to marry Jimmy's mother. He puts intense pressure on Jimmy as he's growing up to be as good as he was. Jimmy relies on his father's presence in the stands at his baseball games; his dad isn't at his games in Jamestown.

After the season ends, Jimmy returns home and gets a part-time job. He begins to hang out with questionable friends. That's when his real trouble begins.