It's the first game of the season and the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant softball team trails by three runs in the ninth inning. Bases are loaded. Homer steps up to the plate with his homemade bat and hits a grand slam to win the game. The team remains undefeated, facing rival Shelbyville for the championship.

Mr. Burns bets Shelbyville's owner, Ari Amandopolis, a million dollars that his team will win. To hedge his bet, he hires Major Leaguers Jose Canseco, Don Mattingly, Ken Griffey, Jr., Ozzie Smith, Steve Sax, Darryl Strawberry, Roger Clemens, Wade Boggs, and Mike Scioscia to work at the plant and play on his team. The day before the game, all but Strawberry are involved in incidents that keep them from playing, forcing Burns to use real employees.

Only Homer is kept on the bench. With the score tied and bases loaded in the ninth inning, Burns sends Homer in to pinch-hit for Strawberry, preferring a right-handed batter against a left-handed pitcher. The first pitch hits Homer and knocks him out, forcing in the winning run. Still unconscious, Homer is paraded around the field as a hero.