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The Diamond Sabotage Mystery
Just hours before the World Championship game, someone broke into Grand Slam Stadium and sabotaged the championship trophy display! The head groundskeeper saw a shadow dart off into the dugout. Solve the clues to reveal who invaded the field!
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 Specialty | Signature Gear | Throwing Hand | Hair Style | Field Distraction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Francisco Lindor | Knuckleball Float | Custom Glove | Left Handed Thrower | Dark Buzz Cut | Loud Air Horns |
| Elly De La Cruz | Knuckleball Float | Weighted Armor | Left Handed Thrower | Dark Buzz Cut | Sticky Pine Tar |
| Julio Rodriguez | Slider Spin | Custom Glove | Right Handed Thrower | Blonde Stubble | Loud Air Horns |
| Marcus Semien | Fastball Blast | Weighted Armor | Left Handed Thrower | Blonde Stubble | Bright Floodlights |
| Corey Seager | Changeup Drop | Custom Glove | Right Handed Thrower | Blonde Stubble | Sticky Pine Tar |
| Trea Turner | Changeup Drop | Custom Glove | Left Handed Thrower | Red Curly Locks | Sticky Pine Tar |
| Adley Rutschman | Slider Spin | High Tech Cleats | Left Handed Thrower | Dark Buzz Cut | Sticky Pine Tar |
| Gunnar Henderson | Slider Spin | Weighted Armor | Right Handed Thrower | Dark Buzz Cut | Loud Air Horns |
| Mookie Betts | Knuckleball Float | Radar Visor | Left Handed Thrower | Blonde Stubble | Loud Air Horns |
| Bryce Harper | Knuckleball Float | Radar Visor | Left Handed Thrower | Dark Buzz Cut | Sticky Pine Tar |
| Gerrit Cole | Knuckleball Float | Radar Visor | Left Handed Thrower | Red Curly Locks | Bright Floodlights |
| Corbin Carroll | Curveball Curve | Weighted Armor | Right Handed Thrower | Red Curly Locks | Bright Floodlights |
| Bobby Witt | Slider Spin | High Tech Cleats | Right Handed Thrower | Red Curly Locks | Sticky Pine Tar |
| Austin Riley | Slider Spin | Radar Visor | Left Handed Thrower | Dark Buzz Cut | Sticky Pine Tar |
| Cal Raleigh | Slider Spin | High Tech Cleats | Right Handed Thrower | Red Curly Locks | Loud Air Horns |
| Freddie Freeman | Fastball Blast | Radar Visor | Right Handed Thrower | Dark Buzz Cut | Sticky Pine Tar |
| Ronald Acuna | Fastball Blast | Titanium Bat | Left Handed Thrower | Dark Buzz Cut | Sticky Pine Tar |
| Zack Wheeler | Curveball Curve | Radar Visor | Left Handed Thrower | Dark Buzz Cut | Loud Air Horns |
| Paul Skenes | Curveball Curve | Weighted Armor | Left Handed Thrower | Blonde Stubble | Bright Floodlights |
| Shohei Ohtani | Changeup Drop | Titanium Bat | Right Handed Thrower | Dark Buzz Cut | Loud Air Horns |
| Juan Soto | Fastball Blast | Custom Glove | Left Handed Thrower | Red Curly Locks | Bright Floodlights |
Clue 1
Addition
The stadium security team tallied the total number of missing baseballs across both dugouts to track the suspect.
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
7479
6444
6452
5423
3937
5423
8388
6452
5725
T
7479
9571
2179
9571
9812
6484
T
7479
3937
5423
6452
6444
2179
3118
6444
T
7479
6452
5725
6444
5725
2345
6452
4668
T
7479
5423
4333 + 3146 =T
6180 + 3391 =D
3058 + 1610 =A
2470 + 3255 =C
5681 + 4131 =N
3511 + 1912 =S
2050 + 1068 =G
2161 + 4283 =H
4433 + 3955 =P
1608 + 2329 =U
1487 + 692 =I
3202 + 3282 =O
3781 + 2671 =E
930 + 1415 =L
0/14 letters found
Clue 2
Multiplication facts (1-12)
The equipment manager counted the gear cases stored in equal rows along the home team locker room.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
A
99
16
3
22
20
6
A
99
11
120
3
120
20
6
1
49
30
16
3
22
20
A
99
8
1
66
11
20
49
11
20
6
3
80
A
99
16
16
9 × 11 =A
8 × 2 =L
10 × 2 =T
6 × 11 =I
1 × 3 =E
1 × 11 =N
7 × 7 =O
10 × 3 =W
10 × 12 =D
2 × 11 =F
6 × 1 =H
1 × 8 =P
1 × 1 =R
10 × 8 =B
0/14 letters found
Clue 3
Rounding
The speed radar gun on the outfield wall only displays pitch velocity rounded to the nearest ten.
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
20
50
3700
230
1100
900
370
3700
1700
4300
50
500
130
50
130
500
370
370
4300
170
50
2300
4300
S
20
1700
4300
500
1100
900
370
90
500
900
4300
130
Round 23 to the nearest tenS
Round 1,652 to the nearest hundredN
Round 4,337 to the nearest hundredE
Round 172 to the nearest tenD
Round 1,079 to the nearest hundredK
Round 132 to the nearest tenR
Round 233 to the nearest tenC
Round 93 to the nearest tenL
Round 3,697 to the nearest hundredI
Round 52 to the nearest tenT
Round 371 to the nearest tenP
Round 455 to the nearest hundredA
Round 2,313 to the nearest hundredH
Round 881 to the nearest hundredY
0/14 letters found
Clue 4
Word problems
The head umpire reviewed the inventory report detailing the bats and helmets left behind.
Solve each problem to learn its letter, then write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.
Astrandof hairturnedupatthescene.
D
54
16
87
69
20
103
7
7
C
103
T
Head umpire lined up 6 rows of 9 baseballs. How many baseballs in all?D
Head umpire lined up 4 rows of 4 resin bags. How many resin bags in all?A
There were 120 baseballs. 33 were used up. How many baseballs are left?R
Head umpire found 9 pine tar rags yesterday and 11 more today. How many pine tar rags in all?B
There were 107 resin bags. 4 were used up. How many resin bags are left?U
Head umpire found 2 resin bags yesterday and 5 more today. How many resin bags in all?Z
Head umpire found 52 baseballs yesterday and 17 more today. How many baseballs in all?K
0/7 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
The grounds crew divided the championship souvenir pins equally among all the ball field workers.
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
12 ÷ 2 = ?
40 ÷ 8 = ?
20 ÷ 5 = ?
20 ÷ 10 = ?
18 ÷ 6 = ?
80 ÷ 10 = ?
21 ÷ 3 = ?
81 ÷ 9 = ?
70 ÷ 7 = ?
6 ÷ 6 = ?
99 ÷ 9 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain floated a slow changeup pitch, then adjusted the radar visor.
2.The villain swept a sudden slider pitch, then strapped on the weighted armor.
3.The villain swept a sudden slider pitch, then grabbed the titanium bat.
4.The villain threw a roaring fastball pitch, then grabbed the titanium bat.
5.The villain danced a wild knuckleball pitch, then adjusted the radar visor.
6.The villain swept a sudden slider pitch, then adjusted the radar visor.
7.The villain floated a slow changeup pitch, then grabbed the titanium bat.
8.The villain snapped a sharp curveball pitch, then laced up the high tech cleats.
9.The villain threw a roaring fastball pitch, then adjusted the radar visor.
10.The villain threw a roaring fastball pitch, then laced up the high tech cleats.
11.The villain threw a roaring fastball pitch, then flapped the custom glove.
12.The villain danced a wild knuckleball pitch, then strapped on the weighted armor.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Diamond Sabotage Mystery
Culprit: Elly De La Cruz (Knuckleball Float · Weighted Armor · Left Handed Thrower · Dark Buzz Cut · Sticky Pine Tar)
- Clue 1 (Addition): "THE SUSPECT DID NOT USE HIGH TECH CLEATS"4333 + 3146 = 7479 (T) · 6180 + 3391 = 9571 (D) · 3058 + 1610 = 4668 (A) · 2470 + 3255 = 5725 (C) · 5681 + 4131 = 9812 (N) · 3511 + 1912 = 5423 (S) · 2050 + 1068 = 3118 (G) · 2161 + 4283 = 6444 (H) · 4433 + 3955 = 8388 (P) · 1608 + 2329 = 3937 (U) · 1487 + 692 = 2179 (I) · 3202 + 3282 = 6484 (O) · 3781 + 2671 = 6452 (E) · 930 + 1415 = 2345 (L)
- Clue 2 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "A LEFT HANDED THROW LEFT A PRINT ON THE BALL"9 × 11 = 99 (A) · 8 × 2 = 16 (L) · 10 × 2 = 20 (T) · 6 × 11 = 66 (I) · 1 × 3 = 3 (E) · 1 × 11 = 11 (N) · 7 × 7 = 49 (O) · 10 × 3 = 30 (W) · 10 × 12 = 120 (D) · 2 × 11 = 22 (F) · 6 × 1 = 6 (H) · 1 × 8 = 8 (P) · 1 × 1 = 1 (R) · 10 × 8 = 80 (B)
- Clue 3 (Rounding): "STICKY PINE TAR TRAPPED THE SNEAKY PLAYER"Round 23 to the nearest ten = 20 (S) · Round 1,652 to the nearest hundred = 1700 (N) · Round 4,337 to the nearest hundred = 4300 (E) · Round 172 to the nearest ten = 170 (D) · Round 1,079 to the nearest hundred = 1100 (K) · Round 132 to the nearest ten = 130 (R) · Round 233 to the nearest ten = 230 (C) · Round 93 to the nearest ten = 90 (L) · Round 3,697 to the nearest hundred = 3700 (I) · Round 52 to the nearest ten = 50 (T) · Round 371 to the nearest ten = 370 (P) · Round 455 to the nearest hundred = 500 (A) · Round 2,313 to the nearest hundred = 2300 (H) · Round 881 to the nearest hundred = 900 (Y)
- Clue 4 (Word problems): "DARK BUZZ CUT"Head umpire lined up 6 rows of 9 baseballs. How many baseballs in all? = 54 (D) · Head umpire lined up 4 rows of 4 resin bags. How many resin bags in all? = 16 (A) · There were 120 baseballs. 33 were used up. How many baseballs are left? = 87 (R) · Head umpire found 9 pine tar rags yesterday and 11 more today. How many pine tar rags in all? = 20 (B) · There were 107 resin bags. 4 were used up. How many resin bags are left? = 103 (U) · Head umpire found 2 resin bags yesterday and 5 more today. How many resin bags in all? = 7 (Z) · Head umpire found 52 baseballs yesterday and 17 more today. How many baseballs in all? = 69 (K)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 12) → Elly De La Cruz12 ÷ 2 = 6 · 40 ÷ 8 = 5 · 20 ÷ 5 = 4 · 20 ÷ 10 = 2 · 18 ÷ 6 = 3 · 80 ÷ 10 = 8 · 21 ÷ 3 = 7 · 81 ÷ 9 = 9 · 70 ÷ 7 = 10 · 6 ÷ 6 = 1 · 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 Diamond Sabotage Mystery — set in Grand Slam Stadium
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects