Bill Johnson, once a passionate baseball player, struggles to maintain a job, constantly drawn to his favorite New York ballpark where he loudly criticizes umpires. This behavior catches the attention of his father-in-law, a retired umpire, who challenges Bill’s prejudices by sending him to umpire school. As he grapples with the complexities of the profession, he begins to see the unsung nobility in being the game’s mediator.

However, his resilience is tested during the Texas League championship play-offs when he makes a controversial call. The situation escalates as an involved player is knocked unconscious, unable to verify Bill’s decision, leading an angry mob to target him. In this high-stakes backdrop, Bill’s family races against time, confronting hair-raising challenges to ensure he safely returns to the ballpark for the next game.