Damn Yankees

Joe Boyd is a devoted fan of the Washington Senators, a fixation that drives a wedge between him and his wife Meg. Meg laments how baseball seems to take over half the year, leaving their conversation centered on scores and seasons rather than their relationship. The mounting distance between them sets the stage for the extraordinary events to come.

In a moment of desperation, Joe declares he would sell his soul to see his team beat the Yankees. The Devil appears as Mr. Applegate and promises to restore Joe's youth and grant pennant glory. He warns that Joe can back out only the day before the last game, after which the contract is binding.

Joe bids an emotional farewell to a sleeping Meg, knowing the life that awaits him. Applegate transforms him into Joe Hardy, a young baseball virtuoso, restoring his youth and giving him a new identity. The deal marks a radical shift from husband to pennant-chasing star.

The next day, Senators practice becomes a showcase as Applegate introduces Joe Hardy from Hannibal, Missouri. Joe blasts hit after hit during an impromptu batting session and signs with the team, instantly becoming a fan favorite. Gloria Thorpe, the sportswriter, schemes to put Joe in the national spotlight.

With tremendous power, Joe leads the Senators on a long winning streak and becomes a national sensation. Yet he misses Meg deeply and keeps sneaking back to his old neighborhood for glimpses of her. Applegate watches the devotion with growing concern as his plan unfolds.

Applegate summons Lola, a demonic beauty who trades youth and looks for souls, to lure Joe away from Meg. Lola performs with 'Whatever Lola Wants,' but Joe's love for Meg resists her advances. Applegate angrily banishes Lola when she fails to break him.

As the pennant races surge, Washington hosts a lavish tribute, and fans wonder who Joe Hardy really is. Gloria confronts Applegate about the lacking memory of Hannibal; Applegate hints that Joe might be Shifty McCoy, a corrupt minor leaguer. Newspapers begin to question his identity as the season nears its end.

Joe faces a potential expulsion as the commissioner holds a hearing and papers question his true identity. Meg and her neighbors testify, falsely claiming Joe grew up with them in Hannibal; the truth is murky, and the clock counts toward midnight. Applegate's hold on Joe's fate tightens as the deadline approaches.

After the hearing, Lola reveals she drugged Applegate so he will sleep through the last game. Joe and Lola discuss their doomed situation and share a moment of sympathy at a nightclub called 'Two Lost Souls.' The air of inevitability surrounds the final acts of the drama.

In the ninth inning of the final game, Mantle’s drive climbs toward center as Joe is switched back to Joe Boyd in full view of the stadium. Joe makes a desperate catch that preserves the win and the pennant for Washington. He slips away from the scene and vanishes into the crowd, unrecognized by most.

Late at night, Joe quietly returns to Meg, who welcomes him with a tearful embrace. They sing together, acknowledging their love despite the chaos around them. The triumph feels hollow as Joe's identity remains ambiguous to the outside world.

Applegate reappears to offer Joe a chance to resume being Joe Hardy in time for the World Series, and Lola is restored to youth and beauty to tempt him. Joe steadfastly ignores the offer, choosing his life with Meg. A tantrum-throwing Applegate vanishes for good, leaving the future in Joe's hands.