⚾ BaseballGrade 8Reading: grades 7-9AdditionMultiplicationRoundingWord problemsDivision
The Case of the Missing Golden Bat
Just hours before Game Seven of the championship series, the legendary Golden Bat vanished from its display case at Grand Slam Stadium. The Head Groundskeeper noticed tire tracks from a grounds cart leading away from the stadium vault. Detective, analyze the stats and stadium records to identify the culprit 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 | Signature Pitch | Batting Style | Throwing Hand | Cap Color | Pitch Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ty Cobb | Curveball | Bunt Master | Right Handed | Navy Cap | High Heat |
| Hank Aaron | Changeup | Switch Hitter | Left Handed | Navy Cap | High Heat |
| Justin Verlander | Curveball | Bunt Master | Left Handed | Gold Cap | High Heat |
| Roberto Clemente | Curveball | Power Pull | Left Handed | Gold Cap | Outside Corner |
| Pedro Martinez | Curveball | Opposite Field | Left Handed | Red Cap | High Heat |
| Willie Mays | Knuckleball | Power Pull | Left Handed | Red Cap | High Heat |
| Lou Gehrig | Changeup | Gap Hitter | Right Handed | Navy Cap | Outside Corner |
| Max Scherzer | Knuckleball | Switch Hitter | Right Handed | Gold Cap | Outside Corner |
| Mookie Betts | Fastball | Gap Hitter | Left Handed | Gold Cap | High Heat |
| Freddie Freeman | Fastball | Gap Hitter | Right Handed | Navy Cap | Outside Corner |
| Jackie Robinson | Slider | Power Pull | Left Handed | Gold Cap | High Heat |
| Miguel Cabrera | Slider | Power Pull | Right Handed | Gold Cap | High Heat |
| Cal Ripken | Fastball | Gap Hitter | Right Handed | Navy Cap | High Heat |
| Derek Jeter | Curveball | Opposite Field | Left Handed | Gold Cap | High Heat |
| Clayton Kershaw | Curveball | Gap Hitter | Right Handed | Navy Cap | High Heat |
| Greg Maddux | Curveball | Bunt Master | Right Handed | Gold Cap | Dirt Pitch |
| Ted Williams | Fastball | Opposite Field | Right Handed | Navy Cap | High Heat |
| Shohei Ohtani | Fastball | Power Pull | Right Handed | Navy Cap | High Heat |
| Randy Johnson | Slider | Gap Hitter | Right Handed | Navy Cap | Dirt Pitch |
| Mike Trout | Knuckleball | Gap Hitter | Left Handed | Gold Cap | Dirt Pitch |
| Nolan Ryan | Fastball | Switch Hitter | Right Handed | Gold Cap | High Heat |
Clue 1
Addition
To decode the first clue, add up the runs scored across all nine innings on the scoreboard.
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
7159
2994
9774
3064
2067
3064
4493
9774
8713
T
7159
2026
3064
7089
2825
T
7159
6815
8363
2067
7089
T
7159
3966
6815
3064
T
7159
9774
2490
3515 + 3644 =T
1431 + 1633 =S
5549 + 3164 =C
1074 + 952 =I
3174 + 5189 =B
2705 + 4110 =A
1977 + 1017 =H
1349 + 2617 =M
3906 + 5868 =E
1011 + 1479 =R
1307 + 760 =U
1942 + 2551 =P
2174 + 4915 =N
992 + 1833 =O
0/14 letters found
Clue 2
Multiplication facts (1-12)
To unlock the next clue, calculate the total stadium seats by multiplying the rows by the seats in each section.
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
96
3
72
80
2
77
77
77
20
W
96
20
100
3
48
21
72
21
20
80
28
2
28
72
21
100
90
W
96
20
72
72
21
2
64
3
2
6
28
12 × 8 =W
10 × 9 =O
1 × 3 =I
4 × 7 =D
2 × 10 =A
3 × 7 =H
8 × 9 =T
6 × 8 =G
10 × 10 =R
8 × 10 =N
1 × 2 =E
7 × 11 =S
8 × 8 =F
1 × 6 =L
0/14 letters found
Clue 3
Rounding
The radar gun display rounds pitch velocity to the nearest ten to generate the next 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.
T
700
50
290
1100
110
1100
5000
290
430
T
700
1100
3000
110
30
900
3000
200
500
2900
500
230
90
T
700
50
200
900
50
50
290
90
T
700
Round 691 to the nearest hundredT
Round 433 to the nearest tenC
Round 288 to the nearest tenE
Round 2,947 to the nearest hundredD
Round 174 to the nearest hundredI
Round 1,134 to the nearest hundredS
Round 231 to the nearest tenY
Round 2,540 to the nearest thousandW
Round 33 to the nearest tenN
Round 91 to the nearest tenA
Round 4,818 to the nearest thousandP
Round 948 to the nearest hundredG
Round 51 to the nearest tenH
Round 107 to the nearest tenU
Round 499 to the nearest hundredL
0/15 letters found
Clue 4
Word problems
Solve this word problem about team inventory to reveal the fourth clue.
Solve each problem to learn its letter, then write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.
Astrandofhairturnedupatthescene.
N
56
16
10
107
84
16
72
Equipment Manager lined up 7 rows of 8 baseballs. How many baseballs in all?N
Equipment Manager lined up 12 rows of 6 cleats. How many cleats in all?P
Equipment Manager lined up 4 rows of 4 cleats. How many cleats in all?A
There were 132 leather mitts. 25 were used up. How many leather mitts are left?Y
There were 87 batting gloves. 3 were used up. How many batting gloves are left?C
Equipment Manager lined up 5 rows of 2 batting gloves. How many batting gloves in all?V
0/6 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
Divide the total batting practice balls equally among the training buckets to reveal the final 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
36 ÷ 12 = ?
44 ÷ 11 = ?
77 ÷ 11 = ?
66 ÷ 11 = ?
81 ÷ 9 = ?
8 ÷ 1 = ?
132 ÷ 11 = ?
30 ÷ 6 = ?
20 ÷ 10 = ?
33 ÷ 3 = ?
110 ÷ 11 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain fired a ninety five mph fastball, then drove the ball into the gap.
2.The villain swept a devastating slider, then batted as a switch hitter.
3.The villain snapped a nasty curveball, then drove the ball into the gap.
4.The villain fired a ninety five mph fastball, then hit to the opposite field.
5.The villain threw a sharp knuckleball, then hit to the opposite field.
6.The villain dropped in a subtle changeup, then hit to the opposite field.
7.The villain fired a ninety five mph fastball, then pulled the ball with power.
8.The villain swept a devastating slider, then pulled the ball with power.
9.The villain snapped a nasty curveball, then laid down a bunt master bunt.
10.The villain threw a sharp knuckleball, then batted as a switch hitter.
11.The villain threw a sharp knuckleball, then pulled the ball with power.
12.The villain swept a devastating slider, then hit to the opposite field.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Case of the Missing Golden Bat
Culprit: Cal Ripken (Fastball · Gap Hitter · Right Handed · Navy Cap · High Heat)
- Clue 1 (Addition): "THE SUSPECT IS NOT A BUNT MASTER"3515 + 3644 = 7159 (T) · 1431 + 1633 = 3064 (S) · 5549 + 3164 = 8713 (C) · 1074 + 952 = 2026 (I) · 3174 + 5189 = 8363 (B) · 2705 + 4110 = 6815 (A) · 1977 + 1017 = 2994 (H) · 1349 + 2617 = 3966 (M) · 3906 + 5868 = 9774 (E) · 1011 + 1479 = 2490 (R) · 1307 + 760 = 2067 (U) · 1942 + 2551 = 4493 (P) · 2174 + 4915 = 7089 (N) · 992 + 1833 = 2825 (O)
- Clue 2 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "WITNESS SAW A RIGHT HANDED THROW AT THE FIELD"12 × 8 = 96 (W) · 10 × 9 = 90 (O) · 1 × 3 = 3 (I) · 4 × 7 = 28 (D) · 2 × 10 = 20 (A) · 3 × 7 = 21 (H) · 8 × 9 = 72 (T) · 6 × 8 = 48 (G) · 10 × 10 = 100 (R) · 8 × 10 = 80 (N) · 1 × 2 = 2 (E) · 7 × 11 = 77 (S) · 8 × 8 = 64 (F) · 1 × 6 = 6 (L)
- Clue 3 (Rounding): "THE SUSPECT SWUNG WILDLY AT HIGH HEAT"Round 691 to the nearest hundred = 700 (T) · Round 433 to the nearest ten = 430 (C) · Round 288 to the nearest ten = 290 (E) · Round 2,947 to the nearest hundred = 2900 (D) · Round 174 to the nearest hundred = 200 (I) · Round 1,134 to the nearest hundred = 1100 (S) · Round 231 to the nearest ten = 230 (Y) · Round 2,540 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (W) · Round 33 to the nearest ten = 30 (N) · Round 91 to the nearest ten = 90 (A) · Round 4,818 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (P) · Round 948 to the nearest hundred = 900 (G) · Round 51 to the nearest ten = 50 (H) · Round 107 to the nearest ten = 110 (U) · Round 499 to the nearest hundred = 500 (L)
- Clue 4 (Word problems): "NAVY CAP"Equipment Manager lined up 7 rows of 8 baseballs. How many baseballs in all? = 56 (N) · Equipment Manager lined up 12 rows of 6 cleats. How many cleats in all? = 72 (P) · Equipment Manager lined up 4 rows of 4 cleats. How many cleats in all? = 16 (A) · There were 132 leather mitts. 25 were used up. How many leather mitts are left? = 107 (Y) · There were 87 batting gloves. 3 were used up. How many batting gloves are left? = 84 (C) · Equipment Manager lined up 5 rows of 2 batting gloves. How many batting gloves in all? = 10 (V)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 1) → Cal Ripken36 ÷ 12 = 3 · 44 ÷ 11 = 4 · 77 ÷ 11 = 7 · 66 ÷ 11 = 6 · 81 ÷ 9 = 9 · 8 ÷ 1 = 8 · 132 ÷ 11 = 12 · 30 ÷ 6 = 5 · 20 ÷ 10 = 2 · 33 ÷ 3 = 11 · 110 ÷ 11 = 10
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 Golden Bat — set in Grand Slam Stadium
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects