Ballpark Mysteries 14 Read online

  Also by David A. Kelly

  BALLPARK MYSTERIES®

  #1 The Fenway Foul-Up

  #2 The Pinstripe Ghost

  #3 The L.A. Dodger

  #4 The Astro Outlaw

  #5 The All-Star Joker

  #6 The Wrigley Riddle

  #7 The San Francisco Splash

  #8 The Missing Marlin

  #9 The Philly Fake

  #10 The Rookie Blue Jay

  #11 The Tiger Troubles

  #12 The Rangers Rustlers

  #13 The Capital Catch

  #14 The Cardinals Caper

  SUPER SPECIAL #1 The World Series Curse

  SUPER SPECIAL #2 Christmas in Cooperstown

  THE MVP SERIES

  #1 The Gold Medal Mess

  #2 The Soccer Surprise

  #3 The Football Fumble

  #4 The Basketball Blowout

  Babe Ruth and the Baseball Curse

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Text copyright © 2018 by David A. Kelly

  Cover art and interior illustrations copyright © 2018 by Mark Meyers

  All rights reserved. Published in the United States by Random House Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Random House LLC, New York.

  Random House and the colophon are registered trademarks and A Stepping Stone Book and the colophon are trademarks of Penguin Random House LLC. Ballpark Mysteries® is a registered trademark of Upside Research, Inc.

  Visit us on the Web!

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  Educators and librarians, for a variety of teaching tools, visit us at RHTeachers­Librarians.com

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  Kelly, David A.

  The Cardinals caper / by David A. Kelly; illustrated by Mark Meyers.

  p. cm.—(Ballpark mysteries; 14)

  “A Stepping Stone Book.”

  Summary: When a beloved Dalmatian goes missing while cousins Mike and Kate are in St. Louis for a Cardinals game, they rush to investigate and find a ransom note.

  ISBN 978-1-5247-6751-8 (trade)—ISBN 978-1-5247-6752-5 (lib. bdg.)—

  ISBN 978-1-5247-6753-2 (ebook)

  [1. St. Louis Cardinals (Baseball team)—Fiction. 2. Baseball—Fiction. 3. Cousins—Fiction. 4. Extortion—Fiction. 5. Mystery and detective stories. 6. Saint Louis (Mo.)—Fiction.] I. Meyers, Mark, illustrator. II. Title.

  PZ7.K2936 Car 2018 [Fic]—dc23 2017007673

  Ebook ISBN 9781524767532

  This book has been officially leveled by using the F&P Text Level Gradient™ Leveling System.

  Random House Children’s Books supports the First Amendment and celebrates the right to read.

  v5.2

  a

  This book is dedicated to my friend John Fitzgerald, who’s been a huge St. Louis Cardinals fan forever.

  —D.A.K.

  “It ain’t bragging if you can do it.”

  —Dizzy Dean, St. Louis Cardinals pitcher, 1930, 1932–1937

  Contents

  Cover

  Also by David A. Kelly

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Dedication

  Chapter 1 A Great Escape

  Chapter 2 Dog Gone!

  Chapter 3 A Note

  Chapter 4 Dog-Napped

  Chapter 5 A Doggone Dead End

  Chapter 6 A New Plan

  Chapter 7 Peanut Butter Hot Dogs

  Chapter 8 A Special Kind of Hot Dog

  Chapter 9 A Dog Whistle

  Chapter 10 A Doggone Good Idea

  Dugout Notes St. Louis Cardinals

  A Great Escape

  Kate Hopkins reached up and gently petted the nose of a big brown horse. It nuzzled her hand.

  Kate giggled. The horse lifted its head and whinnied. It had a white stripe on its nose and white feet.

  “Don’t get your arm bitten off, or we’ll miss the game!” her cousin Mike Walsh said. He was tossing a baseball from one hand to the other. “Red Gibson is going to set the Cardinals’ hitting streak record tonight! He’s hit in thirty-three straight games so far.”

  Kate reached back up to pet the horse again. “It’s okay, Mike. We’re not going to miss any of the action,” she said.

  The horse and five other Clydesdale horses were hitched to a tall red delivery wagon with big white wheels. At the beginning of the baseball game, the horses would pull the wagon inside the stadium while a bouncy “oompah-pah” song played. The Clydesdales appeared at St. Louis Cardinals games on special occasions and for the first and last games of the season. They were at today’s game for the Cardinals’ Lewis and Clark Days celebration.

  “Don’t worry,” the horse team driver said to Mike. “Duke doesn’t bite.” The driver wore bright green pants with yellow stripes down the side and a crisp white shirt with a black tie. A name tag on his shirt read MANNY. Manny reached over and gave Duke a pat. “Well, maybe he’d bite you if you were a Pittsburgh Pirates fan!” he joked.

  Manny’s partner, Tommy, laughed. Tommy was polishing the wagon. He was dressed like Manny. “We don’t have to worry about the Pirates tonight,” Tommy said. “Red Gibson is sure to continue his hitting streak.”

  It was six o’clock in the evening. Mike and Kate were in the groundskeepers’ area in the Cardinals’ stadium. Kate’s mother, Mrs. Hopkins, had arranged for the kids to visit with the horses. She was a sports reporter and often brought Mike and Kate with her to games.

  People bustled all around them. Groundskeepers were fetching rakes and supplies. On the other side of a garage door was the stadium’s outfield. A groundskeeper with a mustache stood just inside the door, dipping pretzels into a jar of peanut butter and munching on them as he watched the other groundskeepers. He seemed to be the boss.

  The noise of the fans finding their seats flooded in through the open doorway. Nearby, Manny and Tommy were getting the horses ready for their appearance on the field.

  “Let’s get a photo!” Kate said.

  Mike pulled out his phone. But before he could take the picture, he noticed a baseball player on the other side of the wagon.

  “Hey, it’s Red Gibson!” Mike said. “What are you doing here?”

  Red stood tall in his St. Louis uniform. He had a bushy black beard and long arms and legs. His young face looked friendly. He smiled at Mike and Kate and walked over to shake their hands.

  “Hello there!” he said. “I came down for a good-luck visit before the game. I do a lot of charity events with Manny and Tommy, and I like to spend time with the animals.”

  Manny laughed. “You don’t just like these animals; you love them!” he said. He looked at Mike and Kate. “I’ve never met someone who loves animals more. He’s even studying to be a veterinarian when he retires from baseball.” Manny patted the side of the old-fashioned delivery wagon. “I know someone who’s going to be thrilled to see you, Red.”

  WHEEET! WOOO!

  Manny gave a loud whistle. A black-and-white blur flashed down from the driver’s seat of the wagon. Mike and Kate felt something brush past their legs.

  Two big paws landed on Red’s chest, and a long pink tongue darted out to lick the side of his face!

  “Louie!” Red called out. “That’s my boy!
You’re my special good-luck charm!”

  Louie, a large Dalmatian, continued to lick and nuzzle Red. Red petted the dog’s back. “As long as you’re here, I know I’ll be able to set a new hitting record!” he said. “Maybe I should see if Coach can make you the mascot for our team!”

  Manny held up his hand. “Not so fast, Red,” he said. “We need Louie to travel with the horses. Dalmatians have always helped keep the horses calm.”

  Tommy stood up from cleaning the wheels of the wagon. “That’s not a bad idea,” he said. “If Red keeps Louie, we can focus on the horses. Maybe we can get a stuffed Dalmatian.”

  Manny shook his head. “That’s a horrible idea, Tommy!” he said. “The horses love Louie. Red’s not getting the dog.”

  Tommy shrugged and went back to work. “Whatever,” he mumbled.

  Red gave Louie one more hug. “Down, boy,” he said. Louie dropped to the ground and looked at Mike and Kate.

  “I think Louie would like to meet you,” Red said. “Shake!”

  Louie sat and then held up his paw for Mike to shake.

  Mike laughed. “Oh, you’re trying to teach me a trick, are you?” he said. Mike shook Louie’s paw. “Nice to meet you!”

  “Attaboy!” Red said. He let Louie give him another lick and a handshake. “I’d love to stay here with you, but I have a game to play. And since you’re my favorite furry friend, I’m going to set a hitting record for you tonight!”

  Mike held out his baseball and pulled a marker from his back pocket. “Red! Would you be willing to sign my ball first?” he asked.

  Red smiled. “Sure!” he said. He took Mike’s ball and signed his name across its sweet spot. Then he handed it back to Mike.

  “Thanks!” Mike said.

  “No problem,” Red said. He waved goodbye and disappeared into a hallway.

  “That was so cool to meet Red Gibson!” Kate said. “And Louie!” She gave the dog a hug and then checked the time. “We need to get going,” she said. “Let’s find our seats so we can watch Louie, Duke, and the rest of the horses parade around the field before the game!”

  As Mike and Kate turned to leave, one of the Cardinals clubhouse attendants walked by and opened a door to the loading zone outside.

  Louie pricked up his ears. The last rays of sunlight shone through the open door. At the sight, Louie took off in a flash.

  “Hey, look out!” Kate called.

  Before anyone could grab him, Louie dashed out the door!

  Dog Gone!

  Louie’s tail disappeared around the corner.

  “Quick, get him!” Manny called. He dropped the rag he was using to polish the wagon and ran after the dog. Mike and Kate looked at Tommy, but he just shook his head, shrugged, and went back to polishing the wagon.

  “Come on,” Kate said. “We’ve got to catch Louie!” She and Mike started to run after Manny. Then a wet black nose poked in around the edge of the door.

  It was Louie!

  The dog ran over to Kate, sat down, and looked up at her.

  “Aww,” Kate said. She knelt and gave him a hug. “That’s a good dog,” she said. “You don’t want to escape! You’ll miss the game and Red setting his big record!”

  Manny walked through the door. A man in a white chef’s hat followed behind him. “Louie was too fast for me, but luckily Harry here stopped him before he ran through the gate into the street,” Manny said. He pointed to a red-and-white-striped hot dog cart near the door to the hallway. A sign across the top read GOOD DOGS! “Harry is our hot dog king! He comes down here before games to feed the grounds crew.”

  Harry waved at Mike and Kate. In his other hand, he was carrying a phone. “Happy to help,” he said. “I was outside making a phone call when Louie zoomed past me. But I was able to catch up and stop him. I guess it takes a hot dog guy to catch a hot dog! Get it?”

  Manny laughed. “That’s good, Harry,” he said. “Save a hot dog for me! I’ll take one after we put the horses on the trucks.”

  “I will, but you’ll have to get it before the second inning. That’s when I move up near the main entrance,” Harry said. He sniffled a few times, then turned his head and sneezed.

  Manny glanced over at Tommy, who was checking the horses’ harnesses. “Hey, Tommy,” he said. “Thanks for the help! I just love the way you jumped up to catch Louie. Oh, wait—you didn’t!”

  Tommy looked at Manny and shrugged. “I knew you’d catch him,” he said. “Louie never goes very far. Besides, I’ve told you a thousand times, I think we should leave Louie at the stables. We have our hands full taking care of the horses.”

  Manny looked at Mike and Kate and sighed. “Tommy’s a great partner, but he’s not really a dog person,” he said. “He’s more of a horse person.”

  “I like Louie!” Tommy said. “I just don’t think we need him on the road with us.”

  Mike dropped to his knees near Kate. He put his ball on the ground and petted Louie. “And I like you, too, Louie!” Mike said.

  Harry stepped over to look at the ball. “Is that a signed ball?” he asked. Before Mike could answer, Harry let out a loud sneeze. He pointed at Louie. “Sorry,” he said. “I’m a little bit allergic to dogs.” He picked up Mike’s baseball. “Red Gibson? You have a signed Red Gibson ball?”

  Mike nodded. “Yup. He was here a little while ago and signed it for me.”

  Harry let out a low whistle. “That’s great!” he said. “I’d love to have one of these for my Cardinals collection. I’m a huge fan.” Harry studied the baseball. “It will be even more valuable after tonight!”

  Harry flipped the ball back to Mike. “Enjoy the game!” he said. “I’ve got to get back to selling the dogs. Catch you later! Get it? Catch you later? Like the dog I just caught?” Harry laughed and then headed back to his cart, sneezing on the way. Two of the groundskeepers were waiting for hot dogs.

  Kate stood up. “We need to get to our seats before the game starts!” she said to Tommy and Manny. “Thanks for letting us pet the horses and visit with Louie!”

  Mike and Kate waved goodbye and walked through the stadium. Kate’s mother had bought them tickets in the first row, right along the third-base line.

  “There’s the Arch!” Mike said as they plopped down in their seats. He pointed past the center-field seats to the huge silver Gateway Arch, which was about six blocks away. The 630-foot-high structure towered over the ballpark. Mike and Kate could just make out the small windows of the visitors’ area at the top.

  “It was really cool going up there this morning,” Kate said. She and Mike had taken a small five-person tram car up to the top, where they looked out at the city. Mike hadn’t liked how cramped the tram car was, but he loved the view of the city and the fact that he could look right into the Cardinals’ stadium.

  Mike pointed to the visitors’ area. “I still think we should have watched the game from up there,” he said. “Then we wouldn’t have had to buy tickets!”

  Before Kate could respond, the loudspeakers blared with organ music. A door in the right-field wall rolled open, and out marched the horses!

  Duke led the hitch of Clydesdales pulling the delivery wagon. Manny and Tommy sat on the open seat in the front. And right between them was Louie! Even from far away, Mike and Kate could see Louie’s tail wag as they rolled along the inside wall of the stadium.

  The crowd cheered wildly. Mike and Kate stood up with the fans and clapped along in time to the music. The horses rounded the outfield warning track and headed for home plate.

  As the wagon passed the seats near the visitors’ dugout on the third-base side, Mike and Kate jumped up and down and called out, “Louie! Louie! Louie!”

  Manny and Tommy waved back at the crowd while steering the horses. Just as the wagon went past Mike and Kate, they heard an excited noise.

  WOOF! WOOF! WOOF!


  Louie was barking at them from the top of the wagon! He had spotted them in the crowd.

  When the parade ended and the wagon left the field a few minutes later, Mike turned to Kate and gave her a high five.

  “That was cool!” Kate said. “Louie really looked like he was having a good time.”

  “I know!” Mike said. “Once Red starts hitting, we’ll all have a good time.”

  After the national anthem, the Cardinals took the field to huge cheers. When the crowd quieted, Mike and Kate sat down for the start of the game.

  The first Pirates batter stepped up to the plate and took a few practice swings. The Cardinals pitcher glared at him and nodded to the catcher. A moment later, he hurled a fastball at the plate.

  WHACK!

  The ball zoomed high into the air. The Pirates player dropped the bat and ran for first. The ball climbed higher. The runner rounded first and headed for second. The ball flew farther and farther. The fans in the stadium grew quiet.

  “Oh no!” Kate said.

  The ball sailed over the outfield fence. It was a home run!

  The runner rounded third and cruised home. He crossed the plate and gave his teammates fist bumps when he returned to the dugout. With just one pitch the Cardinals were behind, 1–0!

  As the next batter came to the plate, the Cardinals fans cheered. They weren’t going to let one run stop them.

  The cheers seemed to work. The Cardinals pitcher struck out the second and third batters, and the fourth one grounded out. The inning was half over! No more runs were scored.

  As the Cardinals players ran off the field to get ready to bat, Kate’s phone rang. She answered it and talked for a minute. When she hung up, she turned to Mike. “That was my mom,” she said. “Manny asked her to call us.”

  “Why?” Mike asked. “What’s going on?”

  Kate stood up and tugged on Mike’s shirt. “We have to go,” she said. “Louie is missing!”

  A Note