Nothing would stop Roy Hobbs from fulfilling his boyhood dream of baseball superstardom. Robert Redford stars in this inspiring fable that begins when 14-year-old Hobbs (Redford) fashions a powerful bat from a fallen oak tree. He soon impresses major league scouts with his ability, fixing his extraordinary talent in the mind of sportswriter Max Mercy (Robert Duvall), who eventually becomes instrumental in Hobbs' career.

But a meeting with a mysterious woman shatters his dreams. Years pass and an older Hobbs reappears as a rookie from the New York Knights. Overcoming physical pain and defying those who have a stake in seeing the Knights lose, Hobbs with his boyhood bat, has his chance to lead the Knights to the penant and to finally fufill his dream.