⚾ BaseballGrade 8Reading: grades 7-9AdditionMultiplicationRoundingWord problemsDivision
The Mystery of the Missing World Series Trophy
Right before game seven of the championship series, the trophy vanished from the display case behind home plate. The thief left subtle hints around the dugout, bullpen, and outfield fence. Decode the evidence 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 | Batting Style | Favorite Gear | Throwing Hand | Hair Style | Pitch Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cal Ripken | Bunt Tactics | Resin Bag | Right Handed Thrower | Red Cap Hair | High Heat Pitch |
| Stan Musial | Heavy Bat Swing | Weighted Donut | Left Handed Thrower | Blonde Buzzcut | High Heat Pitch |
| Jackie Robinson | Curveball Mastery | Resin Bag | Right Handed Thrower | Blonde Buzzcut | High Heat Pitch |
| Pedro Martinez | Heavy Bat Swing | Cleat Spikes | Right Handed Thrower | Dark Ponytail | High Heat Pitch |
| Derek Jeter | Bunt Tactics | Cleat Spikes | Left Handed Thrower | Red Cap Hair | Changeup Surprise |
| Willie Mays | Switch Hitting | Radar Gun Tracker | Right Handed Thrower | Blonde Buzzcut | Slider Away |
| Hank Aaron | Bunt Tactics | Weighted Donut | Right Handed Thrower | Blonde Buzzcut | Slider Away |
| Cy Young | Heavy Bat Swing | Resin Bag | Left Handed Thrower | Dark Ponytail | High Heat Pitch |
| Mike Trout | Bunt Tactics | Weighted Donut | Left Handed Thrower | Dark Ponytail | Slider Away |
| Nolan Ryan | Heavy Bat Swing | Cleat Spikes | Right Handed Thrower | Red Cap Hair | Slider Away |
| Roberto Clemente | Curveball Mastery | Resin Bag | Right Handed Thrower | Dark Ponytail | Changeup Surprise |
| Yogi Berra | Heavy Bat Swing | Cleat Spikes | Right Handed Thrower | Blonde Buzzcut | Slider Away |
| Babe Ruth | Fast Pitch Focus | Weighted Donut | Right Handed Thrower | Red Cap Hair | Slider Away |
| Lou Gehrig | Bunt Tactics | Resin Bag | Left Handed Thrower | Blonde Buzzcut | Changeup Surprise |
| Sandy Koufax | Heavy Bat Swing | Resin Bag | Right Handed Thrower | Blonde Buzzcut | Slider Away |
| Shohei Ohtani | Curveball Mastery | Radar Gun Tracker | Right Handed Thrower | Blonde Buzzcut | High Heat Pitch |
| Ted Williams | Fast Pitch Focus | Resin Bag | Left Handed Thrower | Blonde Buzzcut | Slider Away |
| Greg Maddux | Curveball Mastery | Radar Gun Tracker | Left Handed Thrower | Dark Ponytail | Changeup Surprise |
| Ernie Banks | Bunt Tactics | Resin Bag | Right Handed Thrower | Red Cap Hair | Slider Away |
| Mookie Betts | Fast Pitch Focus | Weighted Donut | Right Handed Thrower | Red Cap Hair | High Heat Pitch |
| Ken Griffey | Fast Pitch Focus | Radar Gun Tracker | Right Handed Thrower | Blonde Buzzcut | Slider Away |
Clue 1
Addition
To tally the baseballs recovered from each dugout, add the counts together.
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
4037
6985
6981
2073
3299
2073
2802
6981
7575
T
4037
5678
5325
6981
2073
3915
5325
T
4037
3299
2073
6981
7575
9823
6981
3313
T
4037
2073
2802
7179
4337
6981
2073
1737 + 2300 =T
3789 + 3196 =H
1458 + 1841 =U
2817 + 2861 =D
645 + 1428 =S
2187 + 1126 =A
2286 + 4695 =E
3180 + 3999 =I
3640 + 6183 =L
1256 + 2659 =N
3542 + 1783 =O
2840 + 1497 =K
1376 + 1426 =P
4450 + 3125 =C
0/14 letters found
Clue 2
Multiplication facts (1-12)
The maintenance team multiplied the number of seat rows by seat counts to locate missing gear.
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
16
15
33
90
84
110
110
84
110
110
24
W
16
24
96
15
72
60
33
60
24
90
108
84
108
33
60
96
27
W
16
84
96
8 × 2 =W
3 × 8 =A
9 × 10 =N
3 × 9 =O
9 × 12 =D
9 × 8 =G
12 × 7 =E
5 × 3 =I
10 × 6 =H
8 × 12 =R
11 × 10 =S
3 × 11 =T
0/12 letters found
Clue 3
Rounding
The digital radar gun on the outfield wall rounded pitch speeds to find the suspect's trace.
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
5000
170
50
430
230
200
9000
1700
20
900
7000
9000
230
3700
2300
50
4300
7000
1100
20
900
9000
130
4300
50
500
20
1700
20
1100
Round 4,685 to the nearest thousandT
Round 531 to the nearest hundredR
Round 1,742 to the nearest hundredW
Round 4,334 to the nearest hundredD
Round 22 to the nearest tenA
Round 430 to the nearest tenF
Round 6,659 to the nearest thousandB
Round 881 to the nearest hundredS
Round 174 to the nearest tenH
Round 130 to the nearest tenI
Round 230 to the nearest tenO
Round 2,293 to the nearest hundredK
Round 3,739 to the nearest hundredC
Round 154 to the nearest hundredU
Round 8,756 to the nearest thousandL
Round 1,083 to the nearest hundredY
Round 51 to the nearest tenE
0/17 letters found
Clue 4
Word problems
Solve the word problems written on the manager's lineup card to crack this clue.
Solve each problem to learn its letter, then write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.
Astrandof hairturnedupatthescene.
B
94
37
119
60
97
63
B
94
44
Z
Z
C
44
T
Stadium manager found 45 signed baseballs yesterday and 49 more today. How many signed baseballs in all?B
There were 74 pine tar rags. 11 were used up. How many pine tar rags are left?E
Stadium manager lined up 11 rows of 4 signed baseballs. How many signed baseballs in all?U
There were 74 sunflower seed bags. 37 were used up. How many sunflower seed bags are left?L
Stadium manager found 50 sunflower seed bags yesterday and 47 more today. How many sunflower seed bags in all?D
Stadium manager found 45 signed baseballs yesterday and 74 more today. How many signed baseballs in all?O
Stadium manager lined up 12 rows of 5 pine tar rags. How many pine tar rags in all?N
0/7 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
Divide the batch of team vouchers equally among the bullpen staff to unlock the final piece.
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
32 ÷ 8 = ?
24 ÷ 8 = ?
121 ÷ 11 = ?
18 ÷ 3 = ?
108 ÷ 12 = ?
40 ÷ 5 = ?
60 ÷ 6 = ?
132 ÷ 11 = ?
10 ÷ 2 = ?
84 ÷ 12 = ?
8 ÷ 4 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain demonstrated switch hitting, then checked the radar gun tracker.
2.The villain used a heavy bat swing, then swung the weighted donut.
3.The villain executed bunt tactics, then swung the weighted donut.
4.The villain focused on a fast pitch, then checked the radar gun tracker.
5.The villain focused on a fast pitch, then laced up cleat spikes.
6.The villain used a heavy bat swing, then laced up cleat spikes.
7.The villain executed bunt tactics, then applied pine tar grip.
8.The villain focused on a fast pitch, then applied pine tar grip.
9.The villain focused on a fast pitch, then dusted the resin bag.
10.The villain executed bunt tactics, then checked the radar gun tracker.
11.The villain used a heavy bat swing, then dusted the resin bag.
12.The villain demonstrated switch hitting, then swung the weighted donut.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Mystery of the Missing World Series Trophy
Culprit: Willie Mays (Switch Hitting · Radar Gun Tracker · Right Handed Thrower · Blonde Buzzcut · Slider Away)
- Clue 1 (Addition): "THE SUSPECT DOES NOT USE CLEAT SPIKES"1737 + 2300 = 4037 (T) · 3789 + 3196 = 6985 (H) · 1458 + 1841 = 3299 (U) · 2817 + 2861 = 5678 (D) · 645 + 1428 = 2073 (S) · 2187 + 1126 = 3313 (A) · 2286 + 4695 = 6981 (E) · 3180 + 3999 = 7179 (I) · 3640 + 6183 = 9823 (L) · 1256 + 2659 = 3915 (N) · 3542 + 1783 = 5325 (O) · 2840 + 1497 = 4337 (K) · 1376 + 1426 = 2802 (P) · 4450 + 3125 = 7575 (C)
- Clue 2 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "WITNESSES SAW A RIGHT HANDED THROWER"8 × 2 = 16 (W) · 3 × 8 = 24 (A) · 9 × 10 = 90 (N) · 3 × 9 = 27 (O) · 9 × 12 = 108 (D) · 9 × 8 = 72 (G) · 12 × 7 = 84 (E) · 5 × 3 = 15 (I) · 10 × 6 = 60 (H) · 8 × 12 = 96 (R) · 11 × 10 = 110 (S) · 3 × 11 = 33 (T)
- Clue 3 (Rounding): "THE FOUL WAS BLOCKED BY A SLIDER AWAY"Round 4,685 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (T) · Round 531 to the nearest hundred = 500 (R) · Round 1,742 to the nearest hundred = 1700 (W) · Round 4,334 to the nearest hundred = 4300 (D) · Round 22 to the nearest ten = 20 (A) · Round 430 to the nearest ten = 430 (F) · Round 6,659 to the nearest thousand = 7000 (B) · Round 881 to the nearest hundred = 900 (S) · Round 174 to the nearest ten = 170 (H) · Round 130 to the nearest ten = 130 (I) · Round 230 to the nearest ten = 230 (O) · Round 2,293 to the nearest hundred = 2300 (K) · Round 3,739 to the nearest hundred = 3700 (C) · Round 154 to the nearest hundred = 200 (U) · Round 8,756 to the nearest thousand = 9000 (L) · Round 1,083 to the nearest hundred = 1100 (Y) · Round 51 to the nearest ten = 50 (E)
- Clue 4 (Word problems): "BLONDE BUZZCUT"Stadium manager found 45 signed baseballs yesterday and 49 more today. How many signed baseballs in all? = 94 (B) · There were 74 pine tar rags. 11 were used up. How many pine tar rags are left? = 63 (E) · Stadium manager lined up 11 rows of 4 signed baseballs. How many signed baseballs in all? = 44 (U) · There were 74 sunflower seed bags. 37 were used up. How many sunflower seed bags are left? = 37 (L) · Stadium manager found 50 sunflower seed bags yesterday and 47 more today. How many sunflower seed bags in all? = 97 (D) · Stadium manager found 45 signed baseballs yesterday and 74 more today. How many signed baseballs in all? = 119 (O) · Stadium manager lined up 12 rows of 5 pine tar rags. How many pine tar rags in all? = 60 (N)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 1) → Willie Mays32 ÷ 8 = 4 · 24 ÷ 8 = 3 · 121 ÷ 11 = 11 · 18 ÷ 3 = 6 · 108 ÷ 12 = 9 · 40 ÷ 5 = 8 · 60 ÷ 6 = 10 · 132 ÷ 11 = 12 · 10 ÷ 2 = 5 · 84 ÷ 12 = 7 · 8 ÷ 4 = 2
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 8 math
- Math topics
- Addition, Multiplication, Rounding, Word problems, Division
- Reading level
- grades 7-9
- Theme
- The Mystery of the Missing World Series Trophy — set in Diamond City Stadium
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects