⚾ BaseballGrade 8Reading: grades 7-9AdditionMultiplicationRoundingWord problemsDivision
The Championship Trophy Caper
Right before the championship pennant game, someone snuck into the stadium vault and swapped the silver trophy with a foam replica. The stadium groundskeeper found a trail of rosin dust and footprints near home plate. Match the clues to identify the Stadium Phantom before the final inning begins.
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 | Pitch Style | Specialty Play | Throwing Hand | Cap Color | Pitch Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nolan Ryan | Sinker Drop | Bunt Pops | Left Handed Thrower | Gold Cap | High Fastball |
| Sandy Koufax | Steal Signal | Pinch Running | Right Handed Thrower | Gold Cap | High Fastball |
| Jackie Robinson | Steal Signal | Relay Throwing | Left Handed Thrower | Gold Cap | Changeup Drop |
| Babe Ruth | Knuckleball Spike | Bat Flipping | Left Handed Thrower | Gold Cap | High Fastball |
| Lou Gehrig | Knuckleball Spike | Pitch Stealing | Left Handed Thrower | Gold Cap | High Fastball |
| Greg Maddux | Cutter Blast | Bunt Pops | Right Handed Thrower | Red Cap | Changeup Drop |
| Bob Gibson | Cutter Blast | Bunt Pops | Right Handed Thrower | Gold Cap | Changeup Drop |
| Ken Griffey | Sinker Drop | Bunt Pops | Left Handed Thrower | Blue Cap | Inside Curve |
| Derek Jeter | Knuckleball Spike | Bat Flipping | Right Handed Thrower | Blue Cap | High Fastball |
| Ted Williams | Sinker Drop | Bunt Pops | Left Handed Thrower | Gold Cap | Inside Curve |
| Roberto Clemente | Cutter Blast | Relay Throwing | Right Handed Thrower | Blue Cap | High Fastball |
| Pedro Martinez | Knuckleball Spike | Pitch Stealing | Right Handed Thrower | Red Cap | High Fastball |
| Yogi Berra | Knuckleball Spike | Pitch Stealing | Right Handed Thrower | Blue Cap | High Fastball |
| Cy Young | Cutter Blast | Bat Flipping | Right Handed Thrower | Blue Cap | Inside Curve |
| Stan Musial | Sinker Drop | Pinch Running | Left Handed Thrower | Gold Cap | High Fastball |
| Ty Cobb | Knuckleball Spike | Bunt Pops | Left Handed Thrower | Red Cap | Inside Curve |
| Hank Aaron | Cutter Blast | Relay Throwing | Left Handed Thrower | Gold Cap | High Fastball |
| Shohei Ohtani | Cutter Blast | Pitch Stealing | Left Handed Thrower | Blue Cap | High Fastball |
| Honus Wagner | Sinker Drop | Bat Flipping | Right Handed Thrower | Gold Cap | Inside Curve |
| Mookie Betts | Cutter Blast | Pitch Stealing | Right Handed Thrower | Red Cap | High Fastball |
| Cal Ripken | Sinker Drop | Pinch Running | Left Handed Thrower | Blue Cap | High Fastball |
Clue 1
Addition
The head umpire added up the official game balls collected from every tunnel.
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
7486
6424
2319
4013
5006
4013
9896
2319
4728
T
7486
2740
3051
2319
4013
9286
3051
T
7486
5006
4013
2319
5020
5006
9286
T
7486
9896
3051
9896
4013
4853 + 2633 =T
3022 + 1998 =B
2352 + 2654 =U
4200 + 2224 =H
1060 + 1259 =E
1769 + 1282 =O
4488 + 5408 =P
6263 + 3023 =N
1116 + 1624 =D
2310 + 1703 =S
2742 + 1986 =C
0/11 letters found
Clue 2
Multiplication facts (1-12)
The grounds crew counted total light bulbs across the stadium towers in even rows.
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
77
44
88
5
60
T
77
28
88
108
108
108
80
5
80
90
88
9
T
77
44
80
28
132
88
132
T
77
44
120
54
5
88
120
11 × 7 =T
11 × 12 =D
1 × 5 =W
11 × 4 =H
12 × 9 =S
1 × 9 =F
10 × 9 =L
10 × 8 =A
11 × 8 =E
10 × 12 =R
6 × 10 =I
9 × 6 =O
7 × 4 =N
0/13 letters found
Clue 3
Rounding
The radar gun display rounded the pitch speed to the nearest mile 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.
T
900
170
370
4300
50
4300
2300
370
290
T
900
4300
700
50
200
500
30
1700
T
900
370
1700
T
900
1700
170
9000
500
170
7000
1700
4300
T
900
90
1700
30
30
Round 866 to the nearest hundredT
Round 177 to the nearest hundredN
Round 30 to the nearest tenL
Round 6,533 to the nearest thousandF
Round 1,736 to the nearest hundredA
Round 663 to the nearest hundredW
Round 90 to the nearest tenB
Round 496 to the nearest hundredG
Round 4,268 to the nearest hundredS
Round 367 to the nearest tenE
Round 9,012 to the nearest thousandI
Round 166 to the nearest tenH
Round 2,267 to the nearest hundredP
Round 52 to the nearest tenU
Round 287 to the nearest tenC
0/15 letters found
Clue 4
Word problems
The equipment room log detailed inventory movements before game time.
Solve each problem to learn its letter, then write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.
Astrandofhairturnedupatthescene.
G
66
112
50
36
97
71
104
Equipment manager lined up 11 rows of 6 pine tar rags. How many pine tar rags in all?G
Equipment manager lined up 5 rows of 10 baseballs. How many baseballs in all?L
There were 121 pine tar rags. 24 were used up. How many pine tar rags are left?C
Equipment manager found 23 baseballs yesterday and 81 more today. How many baseballs in all?P
Equipment manager found 23 pine tar rags yesterday and 48 more today. How many pine tar rags in all?A
Equipment manager found 91 batting gloves yesterday and 21 more today. How many batting gloves in all?O
Equipment manager lined up 6 rows of 6 pine tar rags. How many pine tar rags in all?D
0/7 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
The team trainer divided energy gels equally among the bullpen pitchers.
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
96 ÷ 8 = ?
36 ÷ 4 = ?
80 ÷ 10 = ?
4 ÷ 4 = ?
18 ÷ 6 = ?
6 ÷ 3 = ?
24 ÷ 4 = ?
35 ÷ 7 = ?
49 ÷ 7 = ?
40 ÷ 10 = ?
99 ÷ 9 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain snapped a cutter blast, then dropped soft bunt pops.
2.The villain delivered a sinker drop, then dropped soft bunt pops.
3.The villain launched a knuckleball spike, then took off pinch running.
4.The villain delivered a sinker drop, then executed relay throwing.
5.The villain flashed a steal signal, then showed off bat flipping.
6.The villain flashed a steal signal, then executed relay throwing.
7.The villain cranked a power drive, then practiced pitch stealing.
8.The villain snapped a cutter blast, then executed relay throwing.
9.The villain launched a knuckleball spike, then showed off bat flipping.
10.The villain delivered a sinker drop, then took off pinch running.
11.The villain cranked a power drive, then took off pinch running.
12.The villain launched a knuckleball spike, then practiced pitch stealing.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Championship Trophy Caper
Culprit: Stan Musial (Sinker Drop · Pinch Running · Left Handed Thrower · Gold Cap · High Fastball)
- Clue 1 (Addition): "THE SUSPECT DOES NOT USE BUNT POPS"4853 + 2633 = 7486 (T) · 3022 + 1998 = 5020 (B) · 2352 + 2654 = 5006 (U) · 4200 + 2224 = 6424 (H) · 1060 + 1259 = 2319 (E) · 1769 + 1282 = 3051 (O) · 4488 + 5408 = 9896 (P) · 6263 + 3023 = 9286 (N) · 1116 + 1624 = 2740 (D) · 2310 + 1703 = 4013 (S) · 2742 + 1986 = 4728 (C)
- Clue 2 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE WITNESS SAW A LEFT HANDED THROWER"11 × 7 = 77 (T) · 11 × 12 = 132 (D) · 1 × 5 = 5 (W) · 11 × 4 = 44 (H) · 12 × 9 = 108 (S) · 1 × 9 = 9 (F) · 10 × 9 = 90 (L) · 10 × 8 = 80 (A) · 11 × 8 = 88 (E) · 10 × 12 = 120 (R) · 6 × 10 = 60 (I) · 9 × 6 = 54 (O) · 7 × 4 = 28 (N)
- Clue 3 (Rounding): "THE SUSPECT SWUNG LATE AT A HIGH FASTBALL"Round 866 to the nearest hundred = 900 (T) · Round 177 to the nearest hundred = 200 (N) · Round 30 to the nearest ten = 30 (L) · Round 6,533 to the nearest thousand = 7000 (F) · Round 1,736 to the nearest hundred = 1700 (A) · Round 663 to the nearest hundred = 700 (W) · Round 90 to the nearest ten = 90 (B) · Round 496 to the nearest hundred = 500 (G) · Round 4,268 to the nearest hundred = 4300 (S) · Round 367 to the nearest ten = 370 (E) · Round 9,012 to the nearest thousand = 9000 (I) · Round 166 to the nearest ten = 170 (H) · Round 2,267 to the nearest hundred = 2300 (P) · Round 52 to the nearest ten = 50 (U) · Round 287 to the nearest ten = 290 (C)
- Clue 4 (Word problems): "GOLD CAP"Equipment manager lined up 11 rows of 6 pine tar rags. How many pine tar rags in all? = 66 (G) · Equipment manager lined up 5 rows of 10 baseballs. How many baseballs in all? = 50 (L) · There were 121 pine tar rags. 24 were used up. How many pine tar rags are left? = 97 (C) · Equipment manager found 23 baseballs yesterday and 81 more today. How many baseballs in all? = 104 (P) · Equipment manager found 23 pine tar rags yesterday and 48 more today. How many pine tar rags in all? = 71 (A) · Equipment manager found 91 batting gloves yesterday and 21 more today. How many batting gloves in all? = 112 (O) · Equipment manager lined up 6 rows of 6 pine tar rags. How many pine tar rags in all? = 36 (D)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 10) → Stan Musial96 ÷ 8 = 12 · 36 ÷ 4 = 9 · 80 ÷ 10 = 8 · 4 ÷ 4 = 1 · 18 ÷ 6 = 3 · 6 ÷ 3 = 2 · 24 ÷ 4 = 6 · 35 ÷ 7 = 5 · 49 ÷ 7 = 7 · 40 ÷ 10 = 4 · 99 ÷ 9 = 11
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 8 math
- Math topics
- Addition, Multiplication, Rounding, Word problems, Division
- Reading level
- grades 7-9
- Theme
- The Championship Trophy Caper — set in Grand Diamond Stadium
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects