Former minor leaguer Morris Buttermaker (Walter Matthau) is a lazy, beer swilling swimming pool cleaner who takes money to coach the Bears, a bunch of disheveled misfits who have virtually no baseball talent.

Realizing his dilemma, Coach Buttermaker brings aboard girl pitching ace Amanda Whurlizer (Tatum O'Neal), and Kelly Leak (Jackie Earle Haley), a motorcycle punk who happens to be the best player around. Brimming with confidence, the Bears look to sweep into the championship game and get even with their nemesis, the Yankees.