"The Game" is the twenty-third episode of Season 6 of the American Sitcom Seinfeld. In the episode, Jerry and George decide to form a co-ed softball team as part of the newly-formed UWS Softball League. Determined to prove their athletic prowess, they recruit Elaine, Kramer, and a few other familiar faces to round out their squad.

The episode begins with Jerry and George at Monk's Cafe discussing the potential ego boost a softball team would bring to them. George thinks it's a brilliant plan, but Jerry is skeptical. After George convinces Jerry that a softball team is a good way to meet women, Jerry finally agrees. After Jerry informs Kramer and Elaine about the team, they both agree as Elaine reveals she was a varsity-level softball pitcher in high school, and Kramer enlists the tutelage of his old friend Geoff Kazinski, who was a former professional baseball player. With only a name to decide upon, the gang eventually settles on the 'Comical Crew'.

In need of six more players, the four search for additional players to complete their squad of ten players. Kramer persuades Newman to help, which immediately annoys Jerry and George. George reveals that their first game is to be scheduled on an off-day for the Yankees, which gives him the idea to recruit Bernie Williams and Dave Silvestri, but the plan does not work. Jerry is able to get the help of his long-time friend Doug, who played semi-professional baseball. Elaine, using her connections from her school days gets four of her friends, all varsity-level softballers. Now with a full team ready, all they need is a coach. Jerry volunteers to be a player-manager, but Kramer objects, claiming that Jerry's methods are too laid-back and out of date. Kramer nominated Newman to the position, but Elaine's friend Sandra takes charge and leads the team, ans lets Jerry be an assistant coach.

Sandra's methods of coaching are intense, but worth it to the team members. Kramer, with his newfound ability after training with Geoff, attempts to undermine Sandra's leadership, but it backfires as his evident incomptence at the game leads to a missed throw, nearly missing Daniella, another friend of Elaine's. Kramer agrees to end his training with Geoff, who is obviously unskilled and instead joins the rest of the group. With the first game nearing, the team assesses their new abilities, and concludes that they are fit for the game.

Before the game, the team already runs into a problem. Sandra is unable to show up, and as a result, Jerry's old classmate Joseph, who has no knowledge of the game, takes her place on the team (though starts the game on the bench), and Jerry becomes the de-facto manager. Along with this, Newman shows up in jeans, purporting that he was unable to fasten his sports pants due to his weight. George refutes this, citing his own weight as an example and claims that Newman was simply being lazy. Though it results in no altercation, the two sustain a feud throughout the episode.

In the first inning, Elaine is pitching, who allows no hits from the opposing team. in the bottom of the inning, Jerry leads of the game with a single to right field. Daniella, overconfident, strikes out on three pitches. Elaine, now up to bat, hits a hard line drive well over the shortstop's head. Assuming it will be a hit, Jerry runs and rounds second base, but the left fielder makes a spectacular diving catch, forcing Jerry to run back, but he is doubled off first base so the Crew score no runs. In the second inning, Jerry, at third base, makes a backhand play, sure to save a hit, but George at first base drops the throw, claiming a bug flew into his eye. The error costs the Crew two runs in the inning, lowering Elaine's self-confidence and the team's morale.

In the bottom of the third inning, now down 3-0, Jerry encourages the team to play harder, a speech that works. Kramer, up to bat first, smashes a double into the left-center field gap, and George subsequently grounds a ball up the middle for a base hit. Screaming around third base, Kramer makes a dive for home plate and is called safe, but unfortunately jams his hand into the catcher's leg guard and leaves the game. Jerry convinces the team to calm down, and the next batter, Louisa, hits a two-run home run, tying the game and reinstating the team's confidence.

In the next inning, due to Kramer's injury, Joseph is obliged to play in the field for the rest of the game, with simple instructions from Jerry: "run fast, catch the ball, throw it to the infield." Taking advantage of Joseph's lack of skill, the opposing team hits most of the balls to right field, but Joseph counteracts this by following Jerry's instructions and catching the ball. In the bottom of the inning, Elaine grounds a ball back to the pitcher, but a missed throw leaves her at second base. After this, Elaine's friend, Theresa, singles to left field and Jerry's friend Doug walks, leaving the bases loaded with no outs for Newman. A solid swing, the ball trails in the air towards the center fielder, who makes the catch, but Elaine had broken for home plate off the bat, which had cost the Crew a run. With two outs in the inning, Joseph, now up to bat, strikes out in a pathetic manner. Between innings, Jerry teaches Joseph how to swing properly, and Joseph catches on quite quickly.

In the top of the fifth inning, Joseph follows Jerry's advice still, but too literally. He runs fast, but unfortunately overruns the ball through the air and it results in a triple for the opposing team. The next batter, who happens to be Joe Davola, tries to hit Jerry with the ball but it narrowly misses, scoring the run and putting the team ahead. The next batter belts a two-run home run over the left field fence, extending the lead to three runs. The next three innings prove scoreless, until the bottom of the seventh inning. Up to bat first is Doug, who draws a four-pitch walk. Newman, now up to bat, belts a double into left field, but Doug's hesitance leves him at third base. Now it was Joseph's chance to prove himself. After swinging and missing at two sliders, Joseph connects with a fastball, driving home the two runners and giving the Crew a confidence boost. George, now up to bat, crushes a 2-1 fastball over the center field fence, walking off the game and winning 7-6 in spectacular fashion. Jerry and the rest of the team pour onto the diamond, celebrating as George touches home plate. At the end of the episode, the four main characters sit in Monk's Cafe, discussing their win as Sandra walks in disgusted and announces that she has quit.