⚾ BaseballGrade 8Reading: grades 7-9AdditionMultiplicationRoundingWord problemsDivision
The Grand Slam Mystery
During the championship game at Grand Slam Park, someone swapped the official game balls with weighted synthetic replicas. The head groundskeeper needs your help to analyze the evidence, solve decoding clues, and find the real culprit.
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 | Gear Choice | Throwing Stance | Cap Hairstyle | Pitching Flaw |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pedro Martinez | Fastball Drive | Grip Tape | Right-handed Thrower | Flowing Mullet | Siren Loudness |
| Roberto Clemente | Curveball Snap | Tinted Visor | Left-handed Thrower | Flowing Mullet | Infield Dust |
| Nolan Ryan | Curveball Snap | Pine Tar | Right-handed Thrower | Short Buzz | Bright Floodlights |
| Gerrit Cole | Slider Wipeout | Pine Tar | Left-handed Thrower | Curly Afro | Infield Dust |
| Mookie Betts | Slider Wipeout | Grip Tape | Left-handed Thrower | Flowing Mullet | Infield Dust |
| Hank Aaron | Slider Wipeout | Catcher Shin Guards | Right-handed Thrower | Short Buzz | Bright Floodlights |
| Shohei Ohtani | Curveball Snap | Elbow Guard | Left-handed Thrower | Curly Afro | Bright Floodlights |
| Jackie Robinson | Fastball Drive | Grip Tape | Right-handed Thrower | Curly Afro | Infield Dust |
| Derek Jeter | Curveball Snap | Grip Tape | Left-handed Thrower | Curly Afro | Infield Dust |
| Tom Glavine | Fastball Drive | Tinted Visor | Left-handed Thrower | Curly Afro | Siren Loudness |
| Aaron Judge | Changeup Float | Grip Tape | Left-handed Thrower | Curly Afro | Infield Dust |
| Willie Mays | Curveball Snap | Tinted Visor | Right-handed Thrower | Short Buzz | Siren Loudness |
| Ted Williams | Slider Wipeout | Catcher Shin Guards | Right-handed Thrower | Short Buzz | Siren Loudness |
| Justin Verlander | Curveball Snap | Elbow Guard | Left-handed Thrower | Curly Afro | Infield Dust |
| Lou Gehrig | Knuckleball Drift | Elbow Guard | Left-handed Thrower | Short Buzz | Infield Dust |
| Clayton Kershaw | Changeup Float | Pine Tar | Left-handed Thrower | Curly Afro | Bright Floodlights |
| Sandy Koufax | Fastball Drive | Pine Tar | Left-handed Thrower | Flowing Mullet | Siren Loudness |
| Bob Gibson | Knuckleball Drift | Grip Tape | Left-handed Thrower | Flowing Mullet | Bright Floodlights |
| Cal Ripken Jr | Fastball Drive | Catcher Shin Guards | Right-handed Thrower | Curly Afro | Bright Floodlights |
| Max Scherzer | Knuckleball Drift | Catcher Shin Guards | Left-handed Thrower | Curly Afro | Bright Floodlights |
| Mike Trout | Fastball Drive | Catcher Shin Guards | Left-handed Thrower | Curly Afro | Infield Dust |
Clue 1
Addition
You tally up the dugout inventory counts to decode the first clue about the gear used.
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
5476
3317
7776
9061
7138
9061
7513
7776
4422
T
5476
4217
4826
7776
9061
4241
4826
T
5476
7138
9061
7776
7513
7321
4241
7776
T
5476
6982
2249
3639 + 1837 =T
4965 + 2173 =U
4103 + 2879 =A
4984 + 2792 =E
1269 + 2948 =D
1709 + 1608 =H
2804 + 2022 =O
1460 + 2962 =C
1129 + 1120 =R
4363 + 4698 =S
2238 + 5083 =I
2715 + 4798 =P
2072 + 2169 =N
0/13 letters found
Clue 2
Multiplication facts (1-12)
Next, you calculate total seats per stadium section by multiplying rows and aisles.
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
96
22
42
45
15
81
15
4
72
18
27
90
16
11
20
A
96
72
2
27
A
96
9
45
18
120
16
108
18
16
1
A
96
9
42
12 × 8 =A
2 × 2 =H
12 × 10 =U
7 × 6 =E
5 × 3 =T
9 × 1 =S
3 × 6 =O
9 × 9 =Y
1 × 11 =G
4 × 5 =M
10 × 9 =I
6 × 12 =R
9 × 5 =F
1 × 2 =K
11 × 2 =L
8 × 2 =N
9 × 12 =D
1 × 1 =B
3 × 9 =W
0/19 letters found
Clue 3
Rounding
The pitch-speed radar display only shows rounded numbers, which helps narrow down the speed reading.
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
9000
3700
170
5000
50
2000
2000
30
50
700
1700
170
200
170
1700
2900
30
T
9000
170
290
170
20
50
700
50
700
1300
50
170
2000
20
20
900
1700
T
9000
Round 9,430 to the nearest thousandT
Round 173 to the nearest hundredY
Round 5,342 to the nearest thousandV
Round 20 to the nearest tenD
Round 1,651 to the nearest hundredS
Round 2,128 to the nearest thousandL
Round 54 to the nearest tenI
Round 1,333 to the nearest hundredF
Round 173 to the nearest tenE
Round 3,743 to the nearest hundredH
Round 723 to the nearest hundredN
Round 287 to the nearest tenR
Round 26 to the nearest tenA
Round 856 to the nearest hundredU
Round 2,869 to the nearest hundredW
0/15 letters found
Clue 4
Word problems
The equipment manager brings you situational game logs that require solving word problems.
Solve each problem to learn its letter, then write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.
Astrandof hairturnedupatthescene.
C
45
118
99
32
54
89
104
99
O
There were 62 batting helmets. 17 were used up. How many batting helmets are left?C
Equipment manager found 3 baseballs yesterday and 101 more today. How many baseballs in all?F
Equipment manager lined up 9 rows of 11 baseballs. How many baseballs in all?R
Equipment manager lined up 6 rows of 9 baseballs. How many baseballs in all?Y
Equipment manager found 7 baseballs yesterday and 82 more today. How many baseballs in all?A
Equipment manager lined up 4 rows of 8 leather gloves. How many leather gloves in all?L
There were 139 leather gloves. 21 were used up. How many leather gloves are left?U
0/7 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
Finally, you divide the leftover game balls evenly among the bullpen buckets to reveal the final lead.
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
33 ÷ 11 = ?
20 ÷ 5 = ?
11 ÷ 1 = ?
108 ÷ 12 = ?
1 ÷ 1 = ?
36 ÷ 3 = ?
25 ÷ 5 = ?
6 ÷ 3 = ?
36 ÷ 6 = ?
20 ÷ 2 = ?
70 ÷ 10 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain floated a changeup, then buckled catcher shin guards.
2.The villain floated a changeup, then applied sticky pine tar.
3.The villain floated a changeup, then wrapped heavy grip tape.
4.The villain snapped a curveball, then strapped on an elbow guard.
5.The villain drifted a knuckleball, then buckled catcher shin guards.
6.The villain snapped a curveball, then applied sticky pine tar.
7.The villain drifted a knuckleball, then strapped on an elbow guard.
8.The villain hurled a fast drive, then buckled catcher shin guards.
9.The villain swept a sharp slider, then buckled catcher shin guards.
10.The villain swept a sharp slider, then wrapped heavy grip tape.
11.The villain snapped a curveball, then wrapped heavy grip tape.
12.The villain floated a changeup, then strapped on an elbow guard.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Grand Slam Mystery
Culprit: Mike Trout (Fastball Drive · Catcher Shin Guards · Left-handed Thrower · Curly Afro · Infield Dust)
- Clue 1 (Addition): "THE SUSPECT DOES NOT USE PINE TAR"3639 + 1837 = 5476 (T) · 4965 + 2173 = 7138 (U) · 4103 + 2879 = 6982 (A) · 4984 + 2792 = 7776 (E) · 1269 + 2948 = 4217 (D) · 1709 + 1608 = 3317 (H) · 2804 + 2022 = 4826 (O) · 1460 + 2962 = 4422 (C) · 1129 + 1120 = 2249 (R) · 4363 + 4698 = 9061 (S) · 2238 + 5083 = 7321 (I) · 2715 + 4798 = 7513 (P) · 2072 + 2169 = 4241 (N)
- Clue 2 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "A LEFTY THROWING MARK WAS FOUND ON BASE"12 × 8 = 96 (A) · 2 × 2 = 4 (H) · 12 × 10 = 120 (U) · 7 × 6 = 42 (E) · 5 × 3 = 15 (T) · 9 × 1 = 9 (S) · 3 × 6 = 18 (O) · 9 × 9 = 81 (Y) · 1 × 11 = 11 (G) · 4 × 5 = 20 (M) · 10 × 9 = 90 (I) · 6 × 12 = 72 (R) · 9 × 5 = 45 (F) · 1 × 2 = 2 (K) · 11 × 2 = 22 (L) · 8 × 2 = 16 (N) · 9 × 12 = 108 (D) · 1 × 1 = 1 (B) · 3 × 9 = 27 (W)
- Clue 3 (Rounding): "THE VILLAINS EYES WATERED IN INFIELD DUST"Round 9,430 to the nearest thousand = 9000 (T) · Round 173 to the nearest hundred = 200 (Y) · Round 5,342 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (V) · Round 20 to the nearest ten = 20 (D) · Round 1,651 to the nearest hundred = 1700 (S) · Round 2,128 to the nearest thousand = 2000 (L) · Round 54 to the nearest ten = 50 (I) · Round 1,333 to the nearest hundred = 1300 (F) · Round 173 to the nearest ten = 170 (E) · Round 3,743 to the nearest hundred = 3700 (H) · Round 723 to the nearest hundred = 700 (N) · Round 287 to the nearest ten = 290 (R) · Round 26 to the nearest ten = 30 (A) · Round 856 to the nearest hundred = 900 (U) · Round 2,869 to the nearest hundred = 2900 (W)
- Clue 4 (Word problems): "CURLY AFRO"There were 62 batting helmets. 17 were used up. How many batting helmets are left? = 45 (C) · Equipment manager found 3 baseballs yesterday and 101 more today. How many baseballs in all? = 104 (F) · Equipment manager lined up 9 rows of 11 baseballs. How many baseballs in all? = 99 (R) · Equipment manager lined up 6 rows of 9 baseballs. How many baseballs in all? = 54 (Y) · Equipment manager found 7 baseballs yesterday and 82 more today. How many baseballs in all? = 89 (A) · Equipment manager lined up 4 rows of 8 leather gloves. How many leather gloves in all? = 32 (L) · There were 139 leather gloves. 21 were used up. How many leather gloves are left? = 118 (U)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 8) → Mike Trout33 ÷ 11 = 3 · 20 ÷ 5 = 4 · 11 ÷ 1 = 11 · 108 ÷ 12 = 9 · 1 ÷ 1 = 1 · 36 ÷ 3 = 12 · 25 ÷ 5 = 5 · 6 ÷ 3 = 2 · 36 ÷ 6 = 6 · 20 ÷ 2 = 10 · 70 ÷ 10 = 7
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 8 math
- Math topics
- Addition, Multiplication, Rounding, Word problems, Division
- Reading level
- grades 7-9
- Theme
- The Grand Slam Mystery — set in Grand Slam Park Stadium
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects