⚾ BaseballGrade 5Reading: grades 5-6Fractions of a numberOrder of operationsMultiplicationRoundingDivision
The Mystery of the Missing Championship Trophy
Just hours before the championship game, someone broke into the clubhouse trophy room and swapped the grand trophy with an empty bubblegum bucket! The head groundskeeper needs your detective skills to analyze the physical evidence around home plate and clear the dugout.
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 Type | Special Gear | Glove Hand | Hair Color | Distraction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mickey Mantle | sneaky changeup | pine tar bat | right handed glove | blonde hair | bright lights |
| Willie Mays | sneaky changeup | pine tar bat | right handed glove | black hair | siren noise |
| Cal Ripken | breaking curveball | sun glare visor | left handed glove | black hair | siren noise |
| Babe Ruth | dancing knuckleball | sun glare visor | right handed glove | blonde hair | bright lights |
| Hank Aaron | sharp slider | weighted donut | right handed glove | red hair | squeaky shoes |
| Stan Musial | sharp slider | elbow guard | left handed glove | black hair | squeaky shoes |
| Honus Wagner | sharp slider | weighted donut | left handed glove | blonde hair | siren noise |
| Mike Trout | sneaky changeup | metal cleats | left handed glove | black hair | siren noise |
| Lou Gehrig | blazing fastball | metal cleats | right handed glove | red hair | squeaky shoes |
| Ted Williams | dancing knuckleball | elbow guard | left handed glove | black hair | siren noise |
| Ty Cobb | breaking curveball | pine tar bat | left handed glove | red hair | siren noise |
| Pedro Martinez | dancing knuckleball | pine tar bat | left handed glove | black hair | siren noise |
| Derek Jeter | breaking curveball | elbow guard | right handed glove | red hair | siren noise |
| Greg Maddux | sneaky changeup | metal cleats | left handed glove | blonde hair | bright lights |
| Ernie Banks | blazing fastball | pine tar bat | left handed glove | black hair | siren noise |
| Ichiro Suzuki | sharp slider | weighted donut | right handed glove | black hair | siren noise |
| Yogi Berra | blazing fastball | weighted donut | right handed glove | black hair | siren noise |
| Nolan Ryan | blazing fastball | pine tar bat | right handed glove | red hair | siren noise |
| Shohei Ohtani | sneaky changeup | sun glare visor | right handed glove | blonde hair | bright lights |
| Roberto Clemente | sharp slider | weighted donut | left handed glove | black hair | bright lights |
| Jackie Robinson | dancing knuckleball | metal cleats | right handed glove | black hair | siren noise |
Clue 1
Fractions of a number
The head groundskeeper calculated that three fourths of the game balls were missing from the locker.
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
19
12
13
25
4
22
22
2
4
36
16
3
13
29
36
3
T
19
23
29
13
2
36
13
22
15
3
5
32
23
2
37
16
2/8 of 76 =T
2/6 of 12 =I
4/8 of 74 =R
2/10 of 125 =V
3/6 of 58 =S
1/8 of 96 =H
6/8 of 20 =B
3/6 of 64 =G
1/3 of 6 =A
1/6 of 18 =O
1/2 of 10 =W
1/8 of 176 =L
2/4 of 32 =D
2/10 of 65 =E
2/10 of 115 =U
3/6 of 72 =N
0/16 letters found
Clue 2
Order of operations
To decrypt the locked bullpen safe, detectives followed the playbook order of operations precisely.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
L
65
36
69
51
61
68
7
12
36
12
47
45
19
7
51
20
7
70
68
51
51
19
7
23
27
68
23
36
8 × 10 - 15 =L
11 × 3 - 10 =G
5 × 7 - 16 =I
6 × 5 - 23 =N
9 × 5 - 18 =C
12 × 6 - 27 =R
5 × 11 - 4 =T
11 × 5 - 19 =E
45 + 4 × 4 =H
60 + 2 × 5 =B
37 + 4 × 8 =F
12 + 5 × 7 =P
4 + 4 × 2 =D
3 × 12 - 16 =O
40 + 7 × 4 =A
0/15 letters found
Clue 3
Multiplication facts (1-12)
The manager reviewed the dugout rack, multiplying six rows of helmets by five columns to tally inventory.
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
36
99
16
11
66
66
30
99
S
36
11
22
54
44
S
36
11
42
42
16
30
7
7
11
42
8
54
12
12
3 × 12 =S
1 × 7 =P
9 × 11 =I
6 × 7 =D
2 × 11 =C
5 × 6 =O
1 × 11 =E
9 × 6 =A
8 × 1 =B
2 × 6 =L
11 × 6 =N
8 × 2 =R
4 × 11 =U
0/13 letters found
Clue 4
Rounding
A radar gun on the scoreboard rounded the mystery pitch velocity to the nearest ten to generate a 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.
B
30
20
1100
2300
90
2300
7000
290
20
110
2300
1100
7000
2000
370
3000
130
430
370
4300
20
5000
4300
3000
110
3000
290
1100
1300
Round 33 to the nearest tenB
Round 1,134 to the nearest hundredA
Round 23 to the nearest tenL
Round 1,259 to the nearest hundredP
Round 2,316 to the nearest hundredC
Round 1,807 to the nearest thousandG
Round 7,246 to the nearest thousandU
Round 92 to the nearest tenK
Round 3,326 to the nearest thousandT
Round 4,823 to the nearest thousandM
Round 368 to the nearest tenH
Round 133 to the nearest tenI
Round 426 to the nearest tenN
Round 114 to the nearest tenS
Round 289 to the nearest tenR
Round 4,282 to the nearest hundredE
0/16 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
The batboy divided the remaining custom cleats equally among three team trunks to isolate a suspect 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
5 ÷ 5 = ?
30 ÷ 6 = ?
48 ÷ 4 = ?
4 ÷ 1 = ?
9 ÷ 3 = ?
36 ÷ 6 = ?
72 ÷ 8 = ?
90 ÷ 9 = ?
84 ÷ 12 = ?
22 ÷ 2 = ?
48 ÷ 6 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain threw a blazing fastball, then swung a pine tar bat.
2.The villain curved a breaking ball, then flipped down a sun glare visor.
3.The villain curved a breaking ball, then scuffed dirt with metal cleats.
4.The villain slipped in a changeup, then strapped on an elbow guard.
5.The villain danced a knuckleball, then swung a pine tar bat.
6.The villain curved a breaking ball, then swung a weighted donut.
7.The villain slid a sharp slider, then swung a pine tar bat.
8.The villain slipped in a changeup, then swung a pine tar bat.
9.The villain danced a knuckleball, then flipped down a sun glare visor.
10.The villain curved a breaking ball, then strapped on an elbow guard.
11.The villain slipped in a changeup, then flipped down a sun glare visor.
12.The villain slipped in a changeup, then scuffed dirt with metal cleats.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Mystery of the Missing Championship Trophy
Culprit: Cal Ripken (breaking curveball · sun glare visor · left handed glove · black hair · siren noise)
- Clue 1 (Fractions of a number): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT USE AN ELBOW GUARD"2/8 of 76 = 19 (T) · 2/6 of 12 = 4 (I) · 4/8 of 74 = 37 (R) · 2/10 of 125 = 25 (V) · 3/6 of 58 = 29 (S) · 1/8 of 96 = 12 (H) · 6/8 of 20 = 15 (B) · 3/6 of 64 = 32 (G) · 1/3 of 6 = 2 (A) · 1/6 of 18 = 3 (O) · 1/2 of 10 = 5 (W) · 1/8 of 176 = 22 (L) · 2/4 of 32 = 16 (D) · 2/10 of 65 = 13 (E) · 2/10 of 115 = 23 (U) · 3/6 of 72 = 36 (N)
- Clue 2 (Order of operations): "LEFT HANDED PRINT ON BATTING CAGE"8 × 10 - 15 = 65 (L) · 11 × 3 - 10 = 23 (G) · 5 × 7 - 16 = 19 (I) · 6 × 5 - 23 = 7 (N) · 9 × 5 - 18 = 27 (C) · 12 × 6 - 27 = 45 (R) · 5 × 11 - 4 = 51 (T) · 11 × 5 - 19 = 36 (E) · 45 + 4 × 4 = 61 (H) · 60 + 2 × 5 = 70 (B) · 37 + 4 × 8 = 69 (F) · 12 + 5 × 7 = 47 (P) · 4 + 4 × 2 = 12 (D) · 3 × 12 - 16 = 20 (O) · 40 + 7 × 4 = 68 (A)
- Clue 3 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "SIREN NOISE CAUSED DROPPED BALL"3 × 12 = 36 (S) · 1 × 7 = 7 (P) · 9 × 11 = 99 (I) · 6 × 7 = 42 (D) · 2 × 11 = 22 (C) · 5 × 6 = 30 (O) · 1 × 11 = 11 (E) · 9 × 6 = 54 (A) · 8 × 1 = 8 (B) · 2 × 6 = 12 (L) · 11 × 6 = 66 (N) · 8 × 2 = 16 (R) · 4 × 11 = 44 (U)
- Clue 4 (Rounding): "BLACK CURLS CAUGHT IN HELMET STRAP"Round 33 to the nearest ten = 30 (B) · Round 1,134 to the nearest hundred = 1100 (A) · Round 23 to the nearest ten = 20 (L) · Round 1,259 to the nearest hundred = 1300 (P) · Round 2,316 to the nearest hundred = 2300 (C) · Round 1,807 to the nearest thousand = 2000 (G) · Round 7,246 to the nearest thousand = 7000 (U) · Round 92 to the nearest ten = 90 (K) · Round 3,326 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (T) · Round 4,823 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (M) · Round 368 to the nearest ten = 370 (H) · Round 133 to the nearest ten = 130 (I) · Round 426 to the nearest ten = 430 (N) · Round 114 to the nearest ten = 110 (S) · Round 289 to the nearest ten = 290 (R) · Round 4,282 to the nearest hundred = 4300 (E)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 2) → Cal Ripken5 ÷ 5 = 1 · 30 ÷ 6 = 5 · 48 ÷ 4 = 12 · 4 ÷ 1 = 4 · 9 ÷ 3 = 3 · 36 ÷ 6 = 6 · 72 ÷ 8 = 9 · 90 ÷ 9 = 10 · 84 ÷ 12 = 7 · 22 ÷ 2 = 11 · 48 ÷ 6 = 8
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 5 math
- Math topics
- Fractions of a number, Order of operations, Multiplication, Rounding, Division
- Reading level
- grades 5-6
- Theme
- The Mystery of the Missing Championship Trophy — set in Grand Slam Diamond Stadium
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects