Small town America is disappearing at an alarming rate, and at the top of the list is Abraham, Indiana which was destined to be a leading economic force in the state. In recent years a series of misfortunes have mired it deeply in a depression from which it may never recover. On top of this, a Chicago mob boss has decided to make Abraham his second home and is buying the town one piece at a time. With every purchase, he replaces local workers with his own from Chicago. The resulting unemployment and economic depravity have created an explosive mix, which the city's leading citizens naively ignore.

Into town comes Robert Barnaby as a savior with a ready-made solution for Abraham's economic woes - establish a baseball team that is owned by the citizens and will draw fans from far and wide, filling the hotel, restaurants and other businesses. The program is warmly embraced by all except a few hard-line critics, most notably the skeptical newspaper owner. It is so warmly embraced that the mob boss, the mayor, and a local charitable group all want total control of the team. To Robert's great satisfaction, money is heaped into his hands as factions compete for ownership of the team.

Slowly doubt's creep in as to Robert's intentions. Does he really have the best interests of Abraham in his plans? But as Robert wins the hearts of the citizens of this farmland community, so do they slowly win him over. And as they do, he realizes he has caused more harm than good. Now he must reverse the path he has set and to do this he must convert his most ardent critics and at the same time set his own life on a dangerous path. To add another hurdle, FBI agents appear, asking troubling questions about his past.

Others also have their sights set on Abraham's future. All these come to a climax during a parade honoring the future baseball team and the city's newly appointed oracle.