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Ballpark Mysteries #11
The Tiger Troubles
Batter up! Ballpark Mysteries® combine baseball action with exciting whodunits for early–chapter book readers!
Someone is blackmailing the Detroit Tigers’ famous slugger, Tony! They’ve stolen his favorite trophy, and unless he fills a tiger-shaped bag with signed baseballs, he’ll never see the trophy again. Luckily, all-star sleuths Mike and Kate are ready to pounce on the case. Can they track down the thief in time to save Tony’s treasure?
Ballpark Mysteries are the all-star matchup of fun sleuthing and baseball action, perfect for readers of Ron Roy’s A to Z Mysteries and Matt Christopher’s sports books, and younger siblings of Mike Lupica fans. Each Ballpark Mystery also features “Dugout Notes,” with more amazing baseball facts.
Someone is blackmailing the Detroit Tigers’ famous slugger, Tony! They’ve stolen his favorite trophy, and unless he fills a tiger-shaped bag with signed baseballs, he’ll never see the trophy again. Luckily, all-star sleuths Mike and Kate are ready to pounce on the case. Can they track down the thief in time to save Tony’s treasure?
Ballpark Mysteries are the all-star matchup of fun sleuthing and baseball action, perfect for readers of Ron Roy’s A to Z Mysteries and Matt Christopher’s sports books, and younger siblings of Mike Lupica fans. Each Ballpark Mystery also features “Dugout Notes,” with more amazing baseball facts.
103 pages, Paperback
First published April 28, 2015
30 people are currently reading
387 people want to read
About the author
David A. Kelly
66 books95 followersDavid A. Kelly is the author of over 30 children's books, including the bestselling Ballpark Mysteries series, the MVP series, the brand-new Football Mysteries series, and more.
Mr. Kelly is also the author of the early reader, Babe Ruth and the Baseball Curse and the picture books Tee Time on the Moon and Miracle Mud: Lena Blackburne and Secret Mud that Changed Baseball.
He has written about travel and technology for the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Chicago Sun Times, and many other publications. Mr. Kelly lives in Newton, MA, with his family.
For more information, visit David’s webpage – www.davidakellybooks.com. He's available for school and library visits, in person or virtually.
Mr. Kelly is also the author of the early reader, Babe Ruth and the Baseball Curse and the picture books Tee Time on the Moon and Miracle Mud: Lena Blackburne and Secret Mud that Changed Baseball.
He has written about travel and technology for the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Chicago Sun Times, and many other publications. Mr. Kelly lives in Newton, MA, with his family.
For more information, visit David’s webpage – www.davidakellybooks.com. He's available for school and library visits, in person or virtually.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
January 24, 2021
This is another good one for showing that sometimes people are motivated to commit a crime for a reason that they believe is actually altruistic and "good" even if the crime itself is "bad" and hurts someone else. (See also: Christmas in Cooperstown)
FULL REVIEW OF THE SERIES:
This series has a lot going for it. The characters feel well-drawn (though it’s not heavy on characterization) and the mysteries are quite well done for this age group, not dummied down yet with enough well-placed clues that astute young detectives will figure out whodunit before the big reveal (while including enough red herrings to keep them guessing most of the way).
I like that Mike and Kate feature equally in the book (it’s not a “boy” book or a “girl” book), they both like baseball (but neither is an incredible talent), they are both smart (without being unrealistic brainiacs), both good at solving the mysteries. They feel very relatable and like normal kids. I think boys and girls would equally enjoy this book. I appreciate that Kate is learning Spanish, and that she often researches the locations they travel to ahead of time. There’s a bit of humor and usually a cheesy joke or two for kids who like that, courtesy of Mike (but fortunately no potty humor). They are respectful to one another and there’s no bickering or rivalry. The parents don’t feature much, but again, the relationship is positive. Kate’s parents are divorced, but it is presented as amicable.
I imagine many kids will come to these books because they have a love of baseball but we came to them with very little knowledge of the sport. I chose them because they were well-reviewed and my son has enjoyed mystery books in the past. I was pleasantly surprised by how engaged I was with the baseball aspect, and it really sparked my son’s interest in the sport. Usually there are a few “ballgame” moments with Mike and Kate watching some plays on the field, but it’s more focused on the mystery than the game play. Of course, all the mysteries involve either ballplayers or some aspect of the team or stadium. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the distinctive characteristics of each ballpark. I also appreciate that many of the books give a glimpse into some local culture or history and local landmarks of the city. The back matter provides further notes about the players, ballparks, city, and history mentioned within the story. They are effortlessly educational while being primarily entertaining.
As a parent, I do have a few qualms about the kids running around in large ballpark stadiums (including out-of-the-way places not frequented by crowds) and surrounding areas in unfamiliar cities without a parent around. They also go off with adults they barely know (usually staff at the ballpark, so not exactly “strangers” but…) some of whom they suspect of committing crimes (usually involving theft or some sort of threats to the ballpark or a player) but at least the kids are always together and, of course, it’s the way the kids are able to be heroes and solve the crime themselves. Some of the books are a little heavier on the exposure to danger than others but most are pretty tame and, of course, all ends well. Also, the kids sometimes look for evidence in an office or a person’s backpack or something like that because they suspect the person of having committed the crime—but, of course, they have no warrant or legal right to do so and sometimes it’s a little close to trespassing or, at least, significant snooping. But, again, the positives of the book outweigh these few quibbles for me.
Overall, I highly recommend the series to young readers who enjoy mysteries and baseball. My son loves them and we have read almost every one in the series. I personally like them better than Magic Treehouse and I think they would appeal to fans of Magic Treehouse type books, too.
FULL REVIEW OF THE SERIES:
This series has a lot going for it. The characters feel well-drawn (though it’s not heavy on characterization) and the mysteries are quite well done for this age group, not dummied down yet with enough well-placed clues that astute young detectives will figure out whodunit before the big reveal (while including enough red herrings to keep them guessing most of the way).
I like that Mike and Kate feature equally in the book (it’s not a “boy” book or a “girl” book), they both like baseball (but neither is an incredible talent), they are both smart (without being unrealistic brainiacs), both good at solving the mysteries. They feel very relatable and like normal kids. I think boys and girls would equally enjoy this book. I appreciate that Kate is learning Spanish, and that she often researches the locations they travel to ahead of time. There’s a bit of humor and usually a cheesy joke or two for kids who like that, courtesy of Mike (but fortunately no potty humor). They are respectful to one another and there’s no bickering or rivalry. The parents don’t feature much, but again, the relationship is positive. Kate’s parents are divorced, but it is presented as amicable.
I imagine many kids will come to these books because they have a love of baseball but we came to them with very little knowledge of the sport. I chose them because they were well-reviewed and my son has enjoyed mystery books in the past. I was pleasantly surprised by how engaged I was with the baseball aspect, and it really sparked my son’s interest in the sport. Usually there are a few “ballgame” moments with Mike and Kate watching some plays on the field, but it’s more focused on the mystery than the game play. Of course, all the mysteries involve either ballplayers or some aspect of the team or stadium. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the distinctive characteristics of each ballpark. I also appreciate that many of the books give a glimpse into some local culture or history and local landmarks of the city. The back matter provides further notes about the players, ballparks, city, and history mentioned within the story. They are effortlessly educational while being primarily entertaining.
As a parent, I do have a few qualms about the kids running around in large ballpark stadiums (including out-of-the-way places not frequented by crowds) and surrounding areas in unfamiliar cities without a parent around. They also go off with adults they barely know (usually staff at the ballpark, so not exactly “strangers” but…) some of whom they suspect of committing crimes (usually involving theft or some sort of threats to the ballpark or a player) but at least the kids are always together and, of course, it’s the way the kids are able to be heroes and solve the crime themselves. Some of the books are a little heavier on the exposure to danger than others but most are pretty tame and, of course, all ends well. Also, the kids sometimes look for evidence in an office or a person’s backpack or something like that because they suspect the person of having committed the crime—but, of course, they have no warrant or legal right to do so and sometimes it’s a little close to trespassing or, at least, significant snooping. But, again, the positives of the book outweigh these few quibbles for me.
Overall, I highly recommend the series to young readers who enjoy mysteries and baseball. My son loves them and we have read almost every one in the series. I personally like them better than Magic Treehouse and I think they would appeal to fans of Magic Treehouse type books, too.
August 2, 2022
This is a fun mystery. My favorite part is always learning about the different ballparks and it definitely made me want to visit Detroit’s stadium. I love a good fake tiger.
A tiger tiger
Burning bright on the ballpark
Wall at night is cool!
A tiger tiger
Burning bright on the ballpark
Wall at night is cool!
September 25, 2017
i liked it
February 15, 2018
it was good
March 1, 2019
Very cute read for Grayson. I liked seeing pictures and hearing about things at the ballpark because we love it there.
December 3, 2020
Great Beginner Chapter Book
From my 7 yr old son, “I loved it, it was the best book I
have ever read.” Great for kids into sports and mysteries.
From my 7 yr old son, “I loved it, it was the best book I
have ever read.” Great for kids into sports and mysteries.
January 28, 2021
5 star - Perfect
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish
Read
April 27, 2021TIGERtastic
March 7, 2022
Nice baseball mystery for early readers. I needed a book with a tiger in the title for popsugar 2022 challenge 🤣
July 3, 2024
This book was really cute! I loved getting a taste of the Tiger stadium and following the mystery.
June 10, 2015
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
This book is one in a sleuthing series for early elementary schoolers (ages 6-9), centered around two kids who solve mysteries together as they attend baseball games at various stadiums with their baseball scout father/uncle. This particular mystery is about Tony "The Tiger" Maloney, an outfielder for the Detroit Tigers, who loses an old Little League trophy and is desperate to get it back. The story incorporates facts about baseball itself, the history of the team, and bits about the team's home city and stadium to create a fun AND educational experience for the young reader.
While aimed at both boys and girls (the two main characters are a boy and a girl, and the book itself is dedicated to the famous female Little League-er Mo'ne Davis), I couldn't help but think that my sons (who are very reluctant readers) would have been much more likely to devour a book such as this when they were younger.
I highly recommend it and am excited to experience the other books in the series. Also looking forward to reading a Ballpark Mystery on the Arizona Diamondbacks someday (!!!!).
This book is one in a sleuthing series for early elementary schoolers (ages 6-9), centered around two kids who solve mysteries together as they attend baseball games at various stadiums with their baseball scout father/uncle. This particular mystery is about Tony "The Tiger" Maloney, an outfielder for the Detroit Tigers, who loses an old Little League trophy and is desperate to get it back. The story incorporates facts about baseball itself, the history of the team, and bits about the team's home city and stadium to create a fun AND educational experience for the young reader.
While aimed at both boys and girls (the two main characters are a boy and a girl, and the book itself is dedicated to the famous female Little League-er Mo'ne Davis), I couldn't help but think that my sons (who are very reluctant readers) would have been much more likely to devour a book such as this when they were younger.
I highly recommend it and am excited to experience the other books in the series. Also looking forward to reading a Ballpark Mystery on the Arizona Diamondbacks someday (!!!!).
June 6, 2015
Recommended as a gift for a baseball-enjoying child who is learning chapter books! This is something I would have enjoyed as a child, and wanted to read more. I think it is important for kids to read about things they care about. If the reader had not interest in baseball, it would probably be boring.
For me, I loved that I received a book set in Detroit, near where I live. I've been to Comerica Park and I still learned several things about the team and stadium! The best part was that the ending was totally different, in a will-they-won't they plot twist way, than I expected which is more exciting than can be said for some adult novels!
I did wonder how Trademarks play into writing these kinds of books.
Thanks to FirstReads for the copy of this book.
For me, I loved that I received a book set in Detroit, near where I live. I've been to Comerica Park and I still learned several things about the team and stadium! The best part was that the ending was totally different, in a will-they-won't they plot twist way, than I expected which is more exciting than can be said for some adult novels!
I did wonder how Trademarks play into writing these kinds of books.
Thanks to FirstReads for the copy of this book.
December 13, 2015
Mike and Kate, the all-star sleuths, are on the case. Thy are trying to solve the mystery of who is blackmailing Detroit Tiger’s famous slugger Tony into signing baseballs in exchange for his childhood trophy.
This is the eleventh story in the series featuring two young sleuths who travel to the different ballparks solving mysteries. This is a ready for chapter books for the young reader. There is plenty of action as well as suspense to keep the reader interested. Plenty of white space and illustrations break up the pages so as not to make reading tedious. There are thirty ballparks so expect at least that many in the series not including all-star and playoff and World Series mysteries that may arise. Recommended for grades 1 through 4.
This is the eleventh story in the series featuring two young sleuths who travel to the different ballparks solving mysteries. This is a ready for chapter books for the young reader. There is plenty of action as well as suspense to keep the reader interested. Plenty of white space and illustrations break up the pages so as not to make reading tedious. There are thirty ballparks so expect at least that many in the series not including all-star and playoff and World Series mysteries that may arise. Recommended for grades 1 through 4.
June 7, 2015
This is a really great series for early readers. Clear, concise writing with a nice plot and likeable characters. I also really enjoyed the description of the ballpark and its quirks, as well as the historical tidbits. I need to go back and read the other books in the series. Looking forward to seeing my beloved Safeco Field in this series some day!
Thanks to Goodreads Giveaways and David Kelly for the review copy! (Seriously, that was the fastest I've *ever* received a book!!!)
Thanks to Goodreads Giveaways and David Kelly for the review copy! (Seriously, that was the fastest I've *ever* received a book!!!)
May 21, 2015
Loved that it was based in my state of Michigan down in Detroit. It had some fun themes and reminded me of all the kid stories I read when I was young. You could follow along real easy and I believe that all kids will find this a fun read. I cannot wait to share this with my nephews.
September 28, 2015
I loved this book as I have all of them in the series because of it's baseball connections to the real teams/stadiums....and the student whom I tutor and read these with-they actually get him excited and want to read:)
August 5, 2016
I really enjoyed this book...it was a lot of fun to read. It's perfect for young readers, and I loved the mystery of the story. I highly recommend it. Thanks to the author for providing the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 23, 2016
I really enjoyed this book...it was a lot of fun to read. It's perfect for young readers, and I loved the mystery of the story. I highly recommend it. Thanks to the author for providing the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
December 25, 2016
Another great addition to the Ballpark Mysteries series! This time the story is set in Tiger Stadium in Detroit!
I learned a lot of neat things about this ballpark -- will have to make a visit there someday.
I learned a lot of neat things about this ballpark -- will have to make a visit there someday.
July 15, 2015
Love these AND it's the Tigers :)
June 25, 2015
My 8yr old sons review coming soon
July 8, 2015
This is a great chapter book for children! So glad we found this author and cannot wait to get more in the series for my daughter!
June 11, 2015
Got the book in the mail the other day and my son flew through it. He spend the afternoon finishing it. When he finished, he asked if I could get him more from the series.
April 4, 2017
Ballpark: Detroit Tigers
This volume in the Ballpark Mysteries series brings together all the good elements that make reading this series such a fun experience.
The ballpark is well incorporated with all the tiger motifs. The game going on in the background is woven into the story nicely. And the mystery has several good swerves along its twisting path to the solution. I loved how the red herrings were used this time around. And once Mike and Kate settled on a culprit, the victim told them they needed more evidence, which is a nice lesson for real world sleuthing and discourse.
My four year old son loved Tony the Tiger's childhood nickname of Tony Baloney. That reveal triggered a several minute bout of giggling and repeating, especially since my son loves making up rhymes.
The dugout notes were pretty well focused on the ballpark itself but also included several notes about the historical nature of the Detroit Tigers. I had no idea the team was one of the original American League teams and is the only team to maintain its name and city for its entire lifetime.
This volume in the Ballpark Mysteries series brings together all the good elements that make reading this series such a fun experience.
The ballpark is well incorporated with all the tiger motifs. The game going on in the background is woven into the story nicely. And the mystery has several good swerves along its twisting path to the solution. I loved how the red herrings were used this time around. And once Mike and Kate settled on a culprit, the victim told them they needed more evidence, which is a nice lesson for real world sleuthing and discourse.
My four year old son loved Tony the Tiger's childhood nickname of Tony Baloney. That reveal triggered a several minute bout of giggling and repeating, especially since my son loves making up rhymes.
The dugout notes were pretty well focused on the ballpark itself but also included several notes about the historical nature of the Detroit Tigers. I had no idea the team was one of the original American League teams and is the only team to maintain its name and city for its entire lifetime.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews