因为感觉到自己欠缺了某种制胜的关键因素，“不幸的天才击球手”儿岛弘道，与教练木野崎、投手中根一起，前往冲绳进行特训，在那里他们碰见了了号称赌博棒球从无败迹的谜样的男人——渡久地东亚。 对于东亚的赌球行为深感愤慨的儿岛，提出与东亚进行一场名为"ONE OUTS"比赛——即击球手与投球手的双人对决。结果，身为天才职业击球手的儿岛，竟然惨败给了只有“三流投手”水平的东亚，同时他也深深领略到了这个男人的可怕之处。 经过一段时间的山中修行，儿岛提出要以自己的职业生涯来赌东亚的右手，与东亚再赛一局。第二战中，拼尽全力的儿岛利用规则的漏洞，终于赢了未尝一败的东亚。 “用那边的球棒，打断我的右手吧”，东亚按照约定伸出了自己的右手，却被儿岛紧紧握住：“谁说要打断它？我只说过要你的右手！来职业棒球的世界吧！” 因为儿岛的关系，以投手身份进入LYCAONS球队的东亚，与球队董事、（株）彩珠组会长彩川桓雄定下了每出局一人得到五百万报酬，每失一分支付五千万罚金的疯狂赌约。 只投直球，球速不过120公里的渡久地东亚，到底会给万年B级的弱旅LYCAONS带来怎样的奇迹呢？ 以棒球的世界为舞台，上演着超级智力的对决！在ONE OUTS的游戏中无往而不胜的男人——渡久地东亚，直觉？实力？魔术？投出无人能接住的球的秘密到底是——？ 【STAFF】 原作：甲斐谷忍（集英社 BJ YJC刊） 监督：佐藤雄三 系列构成：高屋敷英夫 人物设定：梅原隆弘 音乐：松本晃彦 音响监督：本田保則 动画制作：Mad House

After one of his coworkers fails to repay a debt, apathetic bum Kaiji Itou is pressured by loan sharks to settle the large sum of cash. Since Kaiji has little money and no future prospects of his own, he is unable to return what his colleague borrowed. Faced with massive financial burdens, Kaiji is given an offer to board the illustrious Espoir—it is said that "one night aboard the ship, and all of your debts will be paid." What seems like a simple night of gambling quickly turns into a game of strategy and betrayal. With the losers of the tournament being subjected to a backbreaking life of indebted servitude, Kaiji must choose his actions—and allies—carefully. However, this is only the beginning of a series of gambles that will wager Kaiji's life, testing the full extent of his wits and will to survive.