Ballpark Mysteries Books in Order
Part ofDavid A Kelly Books in OrderSee the Ballpark Mysteries books by David A. Kelly in order, with quick summaries, reading order help, and background on Mike and Kate's baseball cases.
Last updated: July 11, 2026
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Ballpark Mysteries books in publication order
23 books
The Fenway Foul-Up
by David A Kelly
2011
With all-access passes to Fenway, Mike and Kate see Red Sox slugger Big D's lucky bat get stolen during batting practice. They have to solve the theft fast, because Big D can't hit without it.
The L.A. Dodger
by David A Kelly
2011
Spring break in Los Angeles turns tense when Kate's dad, a Dodgers scout, starts getting threatened and followed. Mike and Kate suspect someone wants his reports and will do a lot to get them.
The Pinstripe Ghost
by David A Kelly
2011
At Yankee Stadium, icy blasts and strange thumps make it sound like Babe Ruth's ghost is on the loose. Mike and Kate dig into the rumors to find out what is really haunting the hallway.
The All-Star Joker
by David A Kelly
2012
The All-Star Game in Kansas City should be nothing but fun, until someone starts pulling pranks and framing an innocent catcher. Mike and Kate investigate before the jokes turn into real trouble.
The Astro Outlaw
by David A Kelly
2012
Before an Astros game, an astronaut plans to show off a rare moon rock, then gets knocked out and robbed. With only a broken green feather as a clue, Mike and Kate have to crack a space-age caper.
The San Francisco Splash
by David A Kelly
2013
While kayaking outside the Giants' ballpark, Mike and Kate rescue a former player from the water, only to learn his World Series ring is missing. The mystery pulls them from McCovey Cove into a citywide chase.
The Wrigley Riddle
by David A Kelly
2013
At Wrigley Field, ripped ivy and rumors of hidden treasure put Mike and Kate on alert. They dig into the stadium's history to learn whether the damage is part of a curse, a scam, or something else entirely.
The Missing Marlin
by David A Kelly
2014
Miami's flashy ballpark has fish tanks, rare creatures, and suddenly, a mystery. When Uncle Oliver's prized fish disappear and Kate spots an endangered sea turtle where it should not be, Mike and Kate know something fishy is going on.
The Philly Fake
by David A Kelly
2014
The Phillies are slumping, and some fans want to blame the Phillie Phanatic. During a Fourth of July trip to Philadelphia, Mike and Kate try to clear the mascot's name and track down the real troublemaker.
The Rookie Blue Jay
by David A Kelly
2015
Mike can't wait to watch rookie star Dusty Martin play in Toronto, but strange ghostly lights start crossing the field. As Dusty's game falls apart, Mike and Kate wonder whether someone is spooking the Blue Jays on purpose.
The Tiger Troubles
by David A Kelly
2015
Someone steals slugger Tony's treasured award and demands a tiger-shaped bag full of signed baseballs. Mike and Kate have to outsmart the blackmailer before the Detroit star loses more than just his trophy.
The Rangers Rustlers
by David A Kelly
2016
A trip to see the Texas Rangers turns into a hunt for a counterfeiter selling fake shirts inside the ballpark. Mike and Kate follow the clues through the stadium before more fans get tricked.
The Capital Catch
by David A Kelly
2017
Washington brings Mike and Kate their biggest case yet, because it touches the president's family. When the Nationals catcher's gear keeps disappearing, the cousins have to solve the mystery before the pressure builds.
The Cardinals Caper
by David A Kelly
2018
Mike and Kate visit St. Louis during a pregame celebration with the Cardinals' famous Clydesdales. When the Dalmatian that rides with them is kidnapped for ransom, the cousins jump into a fast-moving rescue.
The Baltimore Bandit
by David A Kelly
2019
At Orioles Park, a glove once used by Babe Ruth disappears just when Mike and Kate are getting close to the action. A gold coin points to an unlikely suspect, and the cousins have to sort out the real thief.
The Colorado Curveball
by David A Kelly
2020
Mike and Kate arrive at a snow-covered Rockies ballpark just as someone threatens the scoreboard. Their search leads beneath the stadium, across Denver, and into a mystery with plenty of twists.
The Triple Play Twins
by David A Kelly
2021
Mike and Kate head to Minneapolis to meet twin Twins stars Marco and Pedro. When a water balloon attack and other odd events threaten their playoff run, the cousins must figure out who is targeting the duo.
The Atlanta Alibi
by David A Kelly
2022
In Atlanta, Mike and Kate discover that Hank Aaron's historic 715th home run bat and ball have vanished. The cousins race through Braves country to recover the missing treasures before the trail goes cold.
The Black Cat Change-Up
by David A Kelly
2022
The Mets are fighting for a crucial win when a phantom black cat starts rattling their star hitter. Mike and Kate have to figure out whether the bad luck is real, staged, or something in between.
Satchel's Stolen Strike
by David A Kelly
2024
At Rickwood Field in Birmingham, a Juneteenth game celebrating the Negro Leagues is rocked by the theft of a priceless Satchel Paige baseball. Mike, Kate, and a new friend race to recover it before game day is spoiled.
Willie's Clutch Catch
by David A Kelly
2024
Back at Rickwood Field, Mike and Kate meet Buck, a boy who looks a lot like Willie Mays and suddenly falls under suspicion. As strange, smelly mishaps pile up, the cousins work to clear his name and save the big event.
The Bobblehead Bunt
by David A Kelly
2025
Before Brewers vs. Cubs, a brand-new bobblehead of Milwaukee's star hitter disappears and a frozen custard version turns up instead. Mike and Kate dig through threats, pranks, and suspects to solve the swap.
The Sausage Race Chase
by David A Kelly
2025
A Brewers game in Milwaukee gets weirder when the Racing Sausages vanish and a secret bratwurst sauce recipe disappears too. Mike and Kate follow the clues before mascot chaos ruins the day.
Ballpark Mysteries books in chronological order

The Fenway Foul-Up
by David A Kelly
2011Ballpark Mysteries, Book 1
The Pinstripe Ghost
by David A Kelly
2011Ballpark Mysteries, Book 2
The L.A. Dodger
by David A Kelly
2011Ballpark Mysteries, Book 3
The Astro Outlaw
by David A Kelly
2012Ballpark Mysteries, Book 4
The All-Star Joker
by David A Kelly
2012Ballpark Mysteries, Book 5
The Wrigley Riddle
by David A Kelly
2013Ballpark Mysteries, Book 6
The San Francisco Splash
by David A Kelly
2013Ballpark Mysteries, Book 7
The Missing Marlin
by David A Kelly
2014Ballpark Mysteries, Book 8
The Philly Fake
by David A Kelly
2014Ballpark Mysteries, Book 9
The Rookie Blue Jay
by David A Kelly
2015Ballpark Mysteries, Book 10
The Tiger Troubles
by David A Kelly
2015Ballpark Mysteries, Book 11
The Rangers Rustlers
by David A Kelly
2016Ballpark Mysteries, Book 12
The Capital Catch
by David A Kelly
2017Ballpark Mysteries, Book 13
The Cardinals Caper
by David A Kelly
2018Ballpark Mysteries, Book 14
The Baltimore Bandit
by David A Kelly
2019Ballpark Mysteries, Book 15
The Colorado Curveball
by David A Kelly
2020Ballpark Mysteries, Book 16
The Triple Play Twins
by David A Kelly
2021Ballpark Mysteries, Book 17
The Atlanta Alibi
by David A Kelly
2022Ballpark Mysteries, Book 18
The Black Cat Change-Up
by David A Kelly
2022Ballpark Mysteries, Book 19
Satchel's Stolen Strike
by David A Kelly
2024Ballpark Mysteries, Book 20
Willie's Clutch Catch
by David A Kelly
2024Ballpark Mysteries, Book 21
The Sausage Race Chase
by David A Kelly
2025Ballpark Mysteries, Book 22
The Bobblehead Bunt
by David A Kelly
2025Ballpark Mysteries, Book 23
Series background & context
At the center of the Ballpark Mysteries series are cousins Mike Walsh and Kate Hopkins, two kids who love baseball and have a talent for spotting trouble before the adults do. Each book drops them into a different major league ballpark, where a game, a city, and a mystery all arrive at once. The setup is clean and easy to grab onto, which is a big reason the books work so well for younger readers. There is always a clear puzzle, a strong sense of place, and a pair of main characters who know how to keep asking questions.
Mike and Kate get unusual access to the baseball world because Kate's family is tied to it. Her mom is a sports reporter, and in some stories Kate's dad is working as a scout, so the cousins end up in press areas, tunnels, batting practice, and other behind-the-scenes corners of the park. That access opens the door to all kinds of cases, stolen bats, fake shirts, ghostly lights, ransom notes, missing artifacts, and rumors about curses or haunted hallways. The stakes stay right for the age group, but the mysteries still feel real and active.
The setting is half the fun.
Kelly does not use stadiums as simple wallpaper. Fenway Park, Yankee Stadium, Wrigley Field, Toronto, Miami, San Francisco, Denver, Atlanta, and the rest all shape the story in specific ways. One mystery grows out of Wrigley's famous ivy. Another depends on the splash-hit waters beside the Giants' ballpark. Another uses the fish tanks in Miami. Because of that, the books almost have a travel-story rhythm alongside the detective plot. Young readers get the feeling that every team and every city has its own quirks, history, and atmosphere.
The tone is quick, friendly, and lightly suspenseful. Chapters are short, clues are easy to follow, and the baseball action keeps things moving even for kids who are still building reading stamina. That makes the series a natural fit for early chapter-book readers, but it also helps with reluctant readers who want something lively and approachable. Each book usually ends with baseball facts as well, so the fun of the story spills over into real information about parks, teams, and the sport itself.
Another strength of the series is that it balances mystery and sports without making either one feel like homework. A reader can come for the baseball and stay for the detective work, or come for the mystery and pick up a lot of baseball almost by accident. If you want to begin at the true start, The Fenway Foul-Up is the best entry point. But most of the books stand on their own, which makes it easy to jump in with a favorite team and read from there.
Edited by
Software engineer whose passion for tracking book recommendations from podcasts inspired the creation of MRB.
Lead investor at 3one4 Capital whose startup expertise and love for books helped shaped MRB and its growth.














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