Meet Mike and Kate
Start with The Fenway Foul-Up for the intended introduction.
Book Series · 24 Books
Ballpark Mysteries Books
In order from The Fenway Foul-Up to The Rumble Monkey Mix-Up.
Cousins Mike and Kate solve short mysteries at famous baseball stadiums, combining clues, game-day excitement, real ballpark details, and Dugout Notes.
Reviewed by the Bookroo Editors Updated
Reading order
How to Read Ballpark Mysteries
Begin with The Fenway Foul-Up for the character introduction, then follow the numbered order. Because each ballpark brings a new case, a child can also choose a favorite team without losing a long-running plot.
The four Super Specials are longer mysteries in the same world. They are optional adventures, not books #25–28.
Sources: David A. Kelly's official inventory, Penguin Random House series page.
For parents
What Parents Should Know
The cases involve theft, sabotage, blackmail, spooky rumors, and children questioning suspects. Suspense stays mild, supernatural-looking events receive ordinary explanations, and violence is minimal.
Where to start
Where Should My Child Start?
Wants a longer mystery
Try The World Series Curse after meeting the cousins in the main series.
Where the story begins
First Book in the Series
Sale price
$674
Book #1 · Chapter Book · Ages 6–9 · 2011
The Fenway Foul-Up
By David A. Kelly, Mark Meyers (Illustrator)
A baseball bat is stolen from a famous player and two kids try to solve the mystery.
112 pages· 9,681 words· Est. 2 hour read
$6.99Save 4%
Paperback
Summary: Cousins Mike and Kate are thrilled to be at Fenway Park, thanks to Kate's mom's connections. But excitement turns to mystery when the Red Sox's star hitter loses his lucky bat, stolen in plain sight. Without it, his performance falters, risking the team's success. Can Mike and Kate unravel the mystery and save the game before it's too late? Dive into this thrilling whodunnit set in the iconic Boston ballpark, where every clue counts and the stakes are high for the home team.
In reading order
Ballpark Mysteries Series
24 books · Published 2011–2026
#1
Sale price
$674
The Fenway Foul-Up
Chapter Book · Ages 6–9 · 2011
A baseball bat is stolen from a famous player and two kids try to solve the mystery.
#2
Sale price
$574
The Pinstripe Ghost
Chapter Book · Ages 7–9 · 2011
Is Babe Ruth's ghost haunting Yankee Stadium, searching for a lost locker?
#3
Sale price
$574
The L.A. Dodger
Chapter Book · Ages 7–9 · 2011
A scout's secrets are at risk. Can two kids solve the mystery?
#4
Sale price
$574
The Astro Outlaw
Chapter Book · Ages 7–9 · 2012
A moonrock is stolen. Can two kids solve the mystery with just a green feather as a clue?
#5
Sale price
$574
The All-Star Joker
Chapter Book · Ages 7–9 · 2012
A catcher is framed for pranks at the All-Star game. Can the truth be uncovered?
#6
Sale price
$674
The Wrigley Riddle
Chapter Book · Ages 6–9 · 2013
Ivy is missing at Wrigley Field. Is it sabotage or treasure hunting?
#7
Sale price
$674
The San Francisco Splash
Chapter Book · Ages 6–9 · 2013
A missing World Series ring and a man overboard spark a mystery at the ballpark.
#8
Sale price
$574
The Missing Marlin
Chapter Book · Ages 7–9 · 2014
Rare fish vanish at a Miami ballpark. Can Mike and Kate solve the mystery?
#9
Sale price
$599
The Philly Fake
Chapter Book · Ages 7–9 · 2014
A young boy and his cousin investigate a series of mysterious broken bats at a Philadelphia Phillies game, leading them to uncover a surprising plot.
#10
Sale price
$674
The Rookie Blue Jay
Chapter Book · Ages 7–9 · 2015
Ghostly lights haunt the ballpark. Can Mike and Kate solve the mystery?
#11
Sale price
$574
The Tiger Troubles
Chapter Book · Ages 7–9 · 2015
A stolen trophy, a blackmail plot, and two young sleuths on the case. Can they save the day?
#12
Sale price
$574
The Rangers Rustlers
Chapter Book · Ages 7–9 · 2016
A fake merchandise scam at a baseball game leads to a thrilling mystery.
#13
Sale price
$574
The Capital Catch
Chapter Book · Ages 7–9 · 2017
Two young detectives try to solve a mystery involving a baseball player and a series of stolen equipment
#14
Sale price
$574
The Cardinals Caper
Chapter Book · Ages 7–9 · 2018
A missing dog, a ransom note, and a World Series trophy. Can they solve the mystery?
#15
Sale price
$574
The Baltimore Bandit
Chapter Book · Ages 7–9 · 2019
A missing glove, a gold coin, and a pancake-eating pitcher. Can Mike and Kate crack the case?
#16
Sale price
$574
The Colorado Curveball
Chapter Book · Ages 6–9 · 2020
A snowy ballpark, a mysterious note, and a dinosaur—can Mike and Kate solve the mystery before the game?
#17
Sale price
$574
The Triple Play Twins
Chapter Book · Ages 6–9 · 2021
A water balloon attack threatens the Twins' playoff dreams. Can young sleuths crack the case?
#18
Sale price
$574
The Atlanta Alibi
Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · 2022
Legendary baseball bat and ball stolen. Can young sleuths recover them before they're lost forever?
#19
Sale price
$1139
The Black Cat Change-Up
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2022
A black cat haunts the Mets. Can Mike and Kate solve the mystery before the big game?
#20
Sale price
$1139
Satchel's Stolen Strike
Chapter Book · Ages 6–10 · 2024
A priceless baseball vanishes at a historic game. Can young sleuths solve the mystery in time?
#21
Sale price
$1139
Willie's Clutch Catch
Chapter Book · Ages 6–10 · 2024
Can Kate and Mike clear Buck's name and save the big game from sabotage?
#22
Sale price
$1139
The Sausage Race Chase
Chapter Book · Ages 6–10 · 2025
Racing Sausages vanish on game day. Can they be found before the final pitch?
#23
Sale price
$1139
The Bobblehead Bunt
Chapter Book · Ages 6–10 · 2025
A bobblehead swap threatens game day. Can they solve it before the final out?
#24
Sale price
$1139
The Rumble Monkey Mix-Up
Chapter Book · Ages 6–10 · 2026
A gold record vanishes at a baseball game. Can two kids solve the mystery?
Longer mysteries in the same world
Ballpark Mysteries Super Specials
4 books · Published 2016–2019
Four separately numbered adventures with longer cases. They do not extend the 24-book main count.
#1
Sale price
$674
The World Series Curse
Chapter Book · Ages 6–9 · 2016
A World Series mystery threatens the Cubs. Can it be solved before the final game?
#2
Sale price
$574
Christmas in Cooperstown
Chapter Book · Ages 6–9 · 2017
A fake baseball card threatens Christmas. Can two kids solve the mystery in time?
#3
Sale price
$574
Subway Series Surprise
Chapter Book · Ages 6–9 · 2018
Pranks disrupt a baseball showdown in NYC. Can two kids solve the mystery before the series ends?
#4
Sale price
$574
The World Series Kids
Chapter Book · Ages 6–9 · 2019
A baseball team faces sabotage at the World Series. Can two friends uncover the culprit in time?
Good to know
Common Questions
How many books are in the Ballpark Mysteries series?
There are 24 books in the Ballpark Mysteries series. It began with The Fenway Foul-Up in 2011, and the newest book, The Rumble Monkey Mix-Up, was published in 2026.
What order should you read the Ballpark Mysteries books in?
Start with The Fenway Foul-Up and follow the series order — the books above are numbered #1 through #24.
What ages are the Ballpark Mysteries books best for?
The series is best for ages 4–12, based on the age ranges of the individual books.
The people
The Creatives Behind the Books
The people who bring Ballpark Mysteries to life.
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