Henry Briggs, a former big-league pitcher turned game warden, is about to find out if his fastball has hop in another league. Ed Cobb, Speaker of the House, wants Briggs to challenge the incumbent in a 1968 Vermont congressional race. Henry is use to winning in tough situations. But he also knows about losing -- in his marriage, with his kids -- and he knows that he made one big mistake on his way to big-league fame, one night in Jimmy Battles motel in Rhode Island. It is an error that could come back to haunt him if he doesn't do what Cobb directs.