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Ballpark Mysteries #4
The Astro Outlaw
Now batting clean-up-book #4 in a new early chapter book mystery series where each book is set in a different American ballpark!
Houston, we have a problem! Before a game at the Astros' ballpark, Mike and Kate get to meet astronaut commander Nick Rice at the nearby Houston Space Center. He's planning to display a very rare moonrock at an autographing event later. But just before the event, a nefarious outlaw knocks out the commander and steals the moonrock! Can Mike and Kate figure out who did it . . . when their only clue is a broken green feather?
The Astro Outlaw includes a fun act page about the Houston Astros' stadium with trivia about the train on the outfield wall and the homerun gas pump.
Cross Ron Roy's A to Z Mystery series with Matt Christopher's sports books and you get the Ballpark Mysteries: fun, puzzling whodunnits aimed at the younger brothers and sisters of John Feinstein's fans.
From the Trade Paperback edition.
Houston, we have a problem! Before a game at the Astros' ballpark, Mike and Kate get to meet astronaut commander Nick Rice at the nearby Houston Space Center. He's planning to display a very rare moonrock at an autographing event later. But just before the event, a nefarious outlaw knocks out the commander and steals the moonrock! Can Mike and Kate figure out who did it . . . when their only clue is a broken green feather?
The Astro Outlaw includes a fun act page about the Houston Astros' stadium with trivia about the train on the outfield wall and the homerun gas pump.
Cross Ron Roy's A to Z Mystery series with Matt Christopher's sports books and you get the Ballpark Mysteries: fun, puzzling whodunnits aimed at the younger brothers and sisters of John Feinstein's fans.
From the Trade Paperback edition.
112 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
48 people are currently reading
130 people want to read
About the author
David A. Kelly
71 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.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
July 23, 2025
I think the book was a five star book because it was a really interesting book and it had some great ideas the characters made.
February 13, 2012
This is exactly what my school library's collection needs. An early chapter book that includes mystery, sports, and history.
March 21, 2017
Ballpark: Houston Astros
Mike and Kate help Commander Rice, from NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, track down a stolen moon rock. The mystery is decent but a few too many oddities drag it down. Why would the culprit stay in the ballpark with the moon rock? And the resolution was a little cheesy with hiding the moon rock, but even that played well with the "hidden ball" trick Mike witnesses and describes. Still, the NASA connection to Houston was nicely done, even including a mandatory "Houston, we have a problem" joke right off the bat (no pun intended).
But the real treat of this volume was the ballpark itself. Learning about the history of the Astrodome, including the origin of AstroTurf, was cool. and all the special touches in the current Astros ballpark was described in the dugout notes and incorporated into the story (the train, the gas pump, Tal's hill, the flag pole). And Nolan Ryan's history gets a prominent place in the plot as well, with a nicely done riddle.
My four year old son really loved the broken feather clue and was super excited to figure out the culprit based on that reveal. He also liked the moon rock itself. I'm not so sure he fully understood the hidden ball trick, but that's OK.
Mike and Kate help Commander Rice, from NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, track down a stolen moon rock. The mystery is decent but a few too many oddities drag it down. Why would the culprit stay in the ballpark with the moon rock? And the resolution was a little cheesy with hiding the moon rock, but even that played well with the "hidden ball" trick Mike witnesses and describes. Still, the NASA connection to Houston was nicely done, even including a mandatory "Houston, we have a problem" joke right off the bat (no pun intended).
But the real treat of this volume was the ballpark itself. Learning about the history of the Astrodome, including the origin of AstroTurf, was cool. and all the special touches in the current Astros ballpark was described in the dugout notes and incorporated into the story (the train, the gas pump, Tal's hill, the flag pole). And Nolan Ryan's history gets a prominent place in the plot as well, with a nicely done riddle.
My four year old son really loved the broken feather clue and was super excited to figure out the culprit based on that reveal. He also liked the moon rock itself. I'm not so sure he fully understood the hidden ball trick, but that's OK.
April 7, 2025
This is the fourth book in the Ballpark Myteries series.
For this book Kate Hopkins and Mike Walsh - cousins - travel to Houston with her father - Steve Hopkins - to watch an Astros game. Mr Hopkins is also there to meet with his friend - Mr Ryan - who is a baseball scout for the Astros.
Before that though - they meet an astronaut - Commander Rice.
At the game - Commander Rice is supposed to be there with a moon rock - but he is kidnapped and the rock is stolen.
Of course Kate and Mike solve the mystery.
And again at the end of the book there are baseball facts - this time about the Houston Astro dugout.
For this book Kate Hopkins and Mike Walsh - cousins - travel to Houston with her father - Steve Hopkins - to watch an Astros game. Mr Hopkins is also there to meet with his friend - Mr Ryan - who is a baseball scout for the Astros.
Before that though - they meet an astronaut - Commander Rice.
At the game - Commander Rice is supposed to be there with a moon rock - but he is kidnapped and the rock is stolen.
Of course Kate and Mike solve the mystery.
And again at the end of the book there are baseball facts - this time about the Houston Astro dugout.
August 1, 2020
This is a really cute mystery story for young baseball lovers. The only issue I had with it is the inaccurate depiction of Texans. The NASA, baseball and Astros references were accurate and entertaining. Since the book is meant for beginning chapter book audiences, the inaccurate Texan references can be overlooked.
January 3, 2021
In this book, I learned that the Astros ballpark has a train, a huge gas pump, and a hill with a flagpole in the outfield. I love learning about the different ballparks through these fun kid’s mysteries.
February 2, 2024
I know this is for very early readers, but even those books need a story and this didn't have much of one. More of a travelogue about Astros stadium. Though it did have a nice twist with the solution.
September 13, 2017
Rocked
Did you find the moon rock? You be glad if you did do it for me. So did do it for me?!?
Did you find the moon rock? You be glad if you did do it for me. So did do it for me?!?
January 20, 2020
Good early chapter book to attract the attention of active minds. Heroes are the kids. These main characters show great ideas and skills as they solve the mystery .
September 12, 2020
Read this with my 9 year old who loves mysteries and baseball. He really enjoyed it. We’ve read the first four and look forward to more
December 24, 2020
Good as usual.
September 23, 2024
[2.5 stars] This one was kinda boring.
December 4, 2024
I bet this book would be fun for a baseball fan, but as a casual reader, I had a hard time getting into the mystery
March 17, 2024
4.0 stars. Needed a short book in order to see if I could get a book from Libby onto my Kindle. It worked!! Book was an elementary reading book. Mystery with a sports theme. Good clean book for a young reader.
March 15, 2012
Mike Walsh and his cousin Kate Hopkins are back in book 4 of THE BALLPARK MYSTERIES, THE ASTRO OUTLAW. I'm a huge fan of this series because it incorporates sports, crime-solving, and facts young readers will eat up.
In THE ASTRO OUTLAW, it's spring break and Mike and Kate are in Houston, Texas. Not only do they get a VIP tour of NASA's Johnson Space Center, but they're also headed for an Astros' game. Commander Rice, an astronaut who gives them a tour of the Space Center will also be at the game with a real moon rock on display. However, when it comes time for him to step on the field, he's missing. That's when Mike and Kate step in to figure out what happened.
Just like the other books in this series, young crime-solvers will eat up this mystery and enjoy solving the crime. Not only that, but they'll learn some history--for example, did you know Union Station was Houston's biggest train station and now it's the main entrance to the Astro's ballpark? Dugout Notes in the back also provide some fun facts and again, the illustrations by Mark Meyers bring the story to life. Seems as though Kelly has hit it out of the park yet again!
In THE ASTRO OUTLAW, it's spring break and Mike and Kate are in Houston, Texas. Not only do they get a VIP tour of NASA's Johnson Space Center, but they're also headed for an Astros' game. Commander Rice, an astronaut who gives them a tour of the Space Center will also be at the game with a real moon rock on display. However, when it comes time for him to step on the field, he's missing. That's when Mike and Kate step in to figure out what happened.
Just like the other books in this series, young crime-solvers will eat up this mystery and enjoy solving the crime. Not only that, but they'll learn some history--for example, did you know Union Station was Houston's biggest train station and now it's the main entrance to the Astro's ballpark? Dugout Notes in the back also provide some fun facts and again, the illustrations by Mark Meyers bring the story to life. Seems as though Kelly has hit it out of the park yet again!
March 3, 2012
I really enjoyed this kids book and even more importantly my kids loved it!
This is an exciting kids "who done it" mystery story and while there is a baseball theme it's not so strong as to turn off the non-baseball fans. The story flows nicely and the characters are fun. The illustrations are good as well.
I recommend this book to any young reader. I must now go out and buy book #2 "The Pinstripe Ghost" GO YANKEES!
This is an exciting kids "who done it" mystery story and while there is a baseball theme it's not so strong as to turn off the non-baseball fans. The story flows nicely and the characters are fun. The illustrations are good as well.
I recommend this book to any young reader. I must now go out and buy book #2 "The Pinstripe Ghost" GO YANKEES!
July 3, 2017
Commander Rice, former astronaut, is supposed to be throwing out the first pitch of the baseball game. But when he doesn't show up, Mike and Kate run to investigate. They find Commander Rice tied up in a closet and his brief missing. His brief case that contained an Apollo Moon Rock worth thousands of dollars. The cousins are on the case again!
August 23, 2016
I really love this series!
Author, David Kelly does an excellent job of tying a mystery to the Houston Astros and to an astronaut assigned to NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.
The tidbits about Houston's ballpark were equally fascinating, especially the pieces relating to the architecture / design of the space.
Author, David Kelly does an excellent job of tying a mystery to the Houston Astros and to an astronaut assigned to NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.
The tidbits about Houston's ballpark were equally fascinating, especially the pieces relating to the architecture / design of the space.
September 11, 2014
It's about they go on this tour of the spot where they launch rockets. Then they are going to a baseball game that night. The person giving the tour was showing a moonrock and giving autographs. Then the moon rock gets stolen and they catch the man. The moonrock was from Apollo 11.
March 12, 2012
I like how the characters are smart and really curious, just like me!
March 26, 2012
I love this quote by Roger Hornsby under the dedications: "People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring."
January 7, 2013
It was very good, but i figured out the book after reading the first few pages. I guessed the villian and what happens@ Good boook@
September 10, 2014
I Liked it
January 10, 2015
Its a "Out of the park" mystery
May 25, 2013
A quick 9-chapter read. Definitely appealing to 3rd or 4th graders, but not much older than that.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews