⚾ BaseballGrade 8Reading: grades 7-9AdditionMultiplicationRoundingWord problemsDivision
The Case of the Missing Championship Bat
Before the big championship game at Grand Diamond Stadium, someone broke into the equipment vault and stole the legendary gold-plated bat! The detective team must analyze clues left around the ballpark to identify the thief before first pitch.
Suspects
Possible suspects
Cross off a row as each clue rules it out. On screen, tap a row.
21 of 21 still in play
| Name | Batting Style | Favorite Pitch | Batting Glove | Cap Style | Distraction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pedro Martinez | Switch Hitter | Knuckleball | Left Handed | Backward Cap | Loud Whistle |
| Sammy Sosa | Power Hitter | Fastball | Left Handed | Backward Cap | Flash Photography |
| Lou Gehrig | Power Hitter | Fastball | Right Handed | Forward Cap | Screaming Fans |
| Barry Bonds | Slap Hitter | Curveball | Right Handed | Visor | Screaming Fans |
| Willie Mays | Bunter | Fastball | Right Handed | Forward Cap | Flash Photography |
| Stan Musial | Power Hitter | Curveball | Right Handed | Backward Cap | Screaming Fans |
| Jackie Robinson | Power Hitter | Changeup | Right Handed | Backward Cap | Screaming Fans |
| Mike Trout | Contact Hitter | Knuckleball | Right Handed | Forward Cap | Screaming Fans |
| Cy Young | Bunter | Fastball | Right Handed | Backward Cap | Loud Whistle |
| Hank Aaron | Slap Hitter | Curveball | Left Handed | Forward Cap | Screaming Fans |
| Nolan Ryan | Contact Hitter | Fastball | Left Handed | Visor | Loud Whistle |
| Cal Ripken Jr | Power Hitter | Knuckleball | Right Handed | Forward Cap | Flash Photography |
| Mookie Betts | Contact Hitter | Changeup | Left Handed | Visor | Screaming Fans |
| Ted Williams | Slap Hitter | Slider | Right Handed | Forward Cap | Screaming Fans |
| Shohei Ohtani | Slap Hitter | Changeup | Right Handed | Forward Cap | Screaming Fans |
| Ichiro Suzuki | Slap Hitter | Curveball | Left Handed | Visor | Screaming Fans |
| Ty Cobb | Bunter | Slider | Right Handed | Visor | Loud Whistle |
| Randy Johnson | Bunter | Curveball | Right Handed | Backward Cap | Flash Photography |
| Honus Wagner | Power Hitter | Changeup | Right Handed | Forward Cap | Screaming Fans |
| Greg Maddux | Power Hitter | Changeup | Left Handed | Backward Cap | Loud Whistle |
| Roberto Clemente | Bunter | Curveball | Right Handed | Visor | Loud Whistle |
Clue 1
Addition
The stadium security team tallied the total number of missing baseballs across both dugouts to unlock the first vault log.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
T
8570
3916
2439
5627
3573
5627
2109
2439
5900
T
8570
4086
9295
2439
5627
2672
9295
T
8570
4749
5185
8853
9295
9493
T
8570
3916
2439
5627
7471
8075
4086
2439
9493
4524 + 4046 =T
757 + 1352 =P
2093 + 3534 =S
2963 + 1786 =F
4824 + 2647 =L
5234 + 4061 =O
1114 + 1325 =E
1416 + 2157 =U
2424 + 2761 =A
1333 + 1339 =N
3764 + 4311 =I
6222 + 3271 =R
2706 + 1210 =H
1952 + 2134 =D
4126 + 1774 =C
3071 + 5782 =V
0/16 letters found
Clue 2
Multiplication facts (1-12)
The equipment manager multiplied the rows of bat racks by the items per rack to calculate the inventory code.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
W
9
55
60
14
24
81
81
24
81
81
15
W
9
15
3
55
2
108
60
108
15
14
64
24
64
22
15
60
60
24
3
144
35
24
24
9 × 1 =W
12 × 9 =H
3 × 1 =R
2 × 11 =B
5 × 7 =L
5 × 12 =T
7 × 2 =N
3 × 5 =A
11 × 5 =I
12 × 12 =F
2 × 12 =E
1 × 2 =G
9 × 9 =S
8 × 8 =D
0/14 letters found
Clue 3
Rounding
The radar gun display on the stadium scoreboard only displays pitch speed rounded to the nearest ten miles per hour.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
S
1700
700
9000
130
30
1300
50
2300
230
110
30
2300
S
1700
700
5000
2300
110
900
S
1700
130
2900
430
1100
130
9000
900
2300
2300
50
2300
230
430
1100
50
130
110
Round 1,673 to the nearest hundredS
Round 2,913 to the nearest hundredD
Round 131 to the nearest tenE
Round 108 to the nearest tenF
Round 34 to the nearest tenA
Round 739 to the nearest hundredC
Round 54 to the nearest tenI
Round 1,116 to the nearest hundredH
Round 1,325 to the nearest hundredM
Round 233 to the nearest tenG
Round 427 to the nearest tenT
Round 9,118 to the nearest thousandR
Round 868 to the nearest hundredU
Round 2,334 to the nearest hundredN
Round 5,161 to the nearest thousandO
0/15 letters found
Clue 4
Word problems
The head groundskeeper sorted out the stats from yesterday practice sheet to clear up conflicting player reports.
Solve each problem to learn its letter, then write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.
Astrandof hairturnedupatthescene.
F
73
82
101
106
61
101
104
15
61
P
Stadium umpire found 28 helmets yesterday and 45 more today. How many helmets in all?F
Stadium umpire found 96 caps yesterday and 5 more today. How many caps in all?R
Stadium umpire found 6 pennants yesterday and 76 more today. How many pennants in all?O
Stadium umpire lined up 5 rows of 3 pennants. How many pennants in all?C
There were 144 cleats. 40 were used up. How many cleats are left?D
There were 117 baseballs. 11 were used up. How many baseballs are left?W
Stadium umpire found 56 caps yesterday and 5 more today. How many caps in all?A
0/7 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
The coaching staff divided the remaining bucket of practice balls equally among the warm-up stations to reveal the clue.
First solve each problem. Then find each answer in the list below and cross that sentence out. One sentence will be left — that's exactly what the villain did!
Step 1 — solve these
30 ÷ 10 = ?
9 ÷ 1 = ?
32 ÷ 4 = ?
72 ÷ 12 = ?
14 ÷ 7 = ?
8 ÷ 8 = ?
90 ÷ 9 = ?
120 ÷ 10 = ?
121 ÷ 11 = ?
77 ÷ 11 = ?
44 ÷ 11 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain lay down a surprise bunt, then cranked a fast fastball.
2.The villain slapped a hit down the line, then cranked a fast fastball.
3.The villain slapped a hit down the line, then floated a slow changeup.
4.The villain switched batter boxes, then hooked a sharp curveball.
5.The villain singled to shallow outfield, then danced a tricky knuckleball.
6.The villain switched batter boxes, then cranked a fast fastball.
7.The villain singled to shallow outfield, then floated a slow changeup.
8.The villain swung for the fences, then cranked a fast fastball.
9.The villain swung for the fences, then floated a slow changeup.
10.The villain singled to shallow outfield, then hooked a sharp curveball.
11.The villain switched batter boxes, then snapped a breaking slider.
12.The villain lay down a surprise bunt, then hooked a sharp curveball.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Case of the Missing Championship Bat
Culprit: Mike Trout (Contact Hitter · Knuckleball · Right Handed · Forward Cap · Screaming Fans)
- Clue 1 (Addition): "THE SUSPECT DOES NOT FAVOR THE SLIDER"4524 + 4046 = 8570 (T) · 757 + 1352 = 2109 (P) · 2093 + 3534 = 5627 (S) · 2963 + 1786 = 4749 (F) · 4824 + 2647 = 7471 (L) · 5234 + 4061 = 9295 (O) · 1114 + 1325 = 2439 (E) · 1416 + 2157 = 3573 (U) · 2424 + 2761 = 5185 (A) · 1333 + 1339 = 2672 (N) · 3764 + 4311 = 8075 (I) · 6222 + 3271 = 9493 (R) · 2706 + 1210 = 3916 (H) · 1952 + 2134 = 4086 (D) · 4126 + 1774 = 5900 (C) · 3071 + 5782 = 8853 (V)
- Clue 2 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "WITNESSES SAW A RIGHT HANDED BATTER FLEE"9 × 1 = 9 (W) · 12 × 9 = 108 (H) · 3 × 1 = 3 (R) · 2 × 11 = 22 (B) · 5 × 7 = 35 (L) · 5 × 12 = 60 (T) · 7 × 2 = 14 (N) · 3 × 5 = 15 (A) · 11 × 5 = 55 (I) · 12 × 12 = 144 (F) · 2 × 12 = 24 (E) · 1 × 2 = 2 (G) · 9 × 9 = 81 (S) · 8 × 8 = 64 (D)
- Clue 3 (Rounding): "SCREAMING FANS CONFUSED THE RUNNING THIEF"Round 1,673 to the nearest hundred = 1700 (S) · Round 2,913 to the nearest hundred = 2900 (D) · Round 131 to the nearest ten = 130 (E) · Round 108 to the nearest ten = 110 (F) · Round 34 to the nearest ten = 30 (A) · Round 739 to the nearest hundred = 700 (C) · Round 54 to the nearest ten = 50 (I) · Round 1,116 to the nearest hundred = 1100 (H) · Round 1,325 to the nearest hundred = 1300 (M) · Round 233 to the nearest ten = 230 (G) · Round 427 to the nearest ten = 430 (T) · Round 9,118 to the nearest thousand = 9000 (R) · Round 868 to the nearest hundred = 900 (U) · Round 2,334 to the nearest hundred = 2300 (N) · Round 5,161 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (O)
- Clue 4 (Word problems): "FORWARD CAP"Stadium umpire found 28 helmets yesterday and 45 more today. How many helmets in all? = 73 (F) · Stadium umpire found 96 caps yesterday and 5 more today. How many caps in all? = 101 (R) · Stadium umpire found 6 pennants yesterday and 76 more today. How many pennants in all? = 82 (O) · Stadium umpire lined up 5 rows of 3 pennants. How many pennants in all? = 15 (C) · There were 144 cleats. 40 were used up. How many cleats are left? = 104 (D) · There were 117 baseballs. 11 were used up. How many baseballs are left? = 106 (W) · Stadium umpire found 56 caps yesterday and 5 more today. How many caps in all? = 61 (A)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 5) → Mike Trout30 ÷ 10 = 3 · 9 ÷ 1 = 9 · 32 ÷ 4 = 8 · 72 ÷ 12 = 6 · 14 ÷ 7 = 2 · 8 ÷ 8 = 1 · 90 ÷ 9 = 10 · 120 ÷ 10 = 12 · 121 ÷ 11 = 11 · 77 ÷ 11 = 7 · 44 ÷ 11 = 4
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 8 math
- Math topics
- Addition, Multiplication, Rounding, Word problems, Division
- Reading level
- grades 7-9
- Theme
- The Case of the Missing Championship Bat — set in Grand Diamond Stadium
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects