when slacker friends joe cooper and doug remer are challenged to a pickup basketball game against some jocks, they counter by proposing to play a game they learned called "baseketball", which combines baseball and basketball. in reality, they are improvising all of the rules, but somehow the sport becomes a hit. a promoter whose name is ted densley forms a popular league, but after his death a rival owner named baxter cain wants to change the rules to increase profits.