The story opens on October 3, 1951 when a boy named Cotter Martin jumps the turnstiles at the Polo Grounds and enters to the Dodgers-Giant game. Cotter left the stadium with a home run ball; he wanted to keep it as a souvenir, but his father, Max, stole it while he was asleep and sold it to Charles Wainwright, who was standing in line to buy tickets at Yankee Stadium. That exact day, the Soviets successfully completed a test of atomic bombs.
Then, the book tells the story of Nick and Marian, who are two native Bronx residents. Nick's father is a numbers runner, who one day left and never returned. Nick is a good kid, but his street kid smarts got him to spend time in juvenile detention for negligent homicide. One day, he met Klara and had a quick affair. After reuniting for the second time, Klara decides to break it off and the two characters head off separately. Klara is a girl that seeks for independence, while Nick tries to separate who he was back then and who he is now.
During this whole story, the Cold War affects everybody's lives since everybody is feeling fear and paranoia of what's to happen. The effects of paranoia is portrayed by Lenny Bruce, who is a comedian known for nightclub performances. Also, social change has been occurring in the world: drugs, civil rights movements, and sexual tolerance. Historical figures like FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover appear in the story; he appears to have files on hundreds to thousands of people, including the rich and famous.
In the epilogue, it is revealed Nick and Marian are still married, considering that they were both unfaithful in their marriage. Nick says that their relationship has been better then ever. Now he decided to open up to Marian about his past.
