The Mystery of Babe Ruth Baseball by David A. Adler Page A

large gym bag, asked, “What card am I holding? When was the player born and what’s his middle name?”
    â€œIt’s a Stan Musial card. He was born in 1920, on November twenty-first, and his full name is Stanley Frank Musial.”
    â€œAmazing!” the man said as Cam opened her eyes. He told her that his name was Henry Baker, and he asked Cam and Eric if they could come back later. He wanted his wife to meet Cam and test her memory.
    â€œSure, I can come back,” Cam told him.
    â€œOh, good. Now let me show you my collection.”
    Mr. Baker showed Cam and Eric his favorite baseball cards. He showed them cards of Billy Martin, Fernando Valen zuela, Ron Guidry, and Satchel Paige. After that, he led Cam and Eric to the Babe Ruth corner.
    He showed them his Babe Ruth cards. Then Mr. Baker said, “Wait till you see this. I have a baseball that Babe Ruth signed for me almost fifty years ago.”
    Mr. Baker turned around. The wooden stand the baseball had rested on was there, but the baseball was gone.

Chapter Two
    â€œSomeone stole my baseball!” Mr. Baker cried out.
    A woman nearby looked at him. She laughed and said, “Ask your mommy to get you another one.”
    â€œThis wasn’t just any baseball. Babe Ruth signed it. He gave it to me when I was a boy. It’s very valuable.”
    Mr. Baker ran from one person to the next, asking, “Have you seen my baseball? Did you see it rolling on the floor? Did you see someone take it?”

    Eric looked on the floor for the ball. Cam stood on a chair to watch what Mr. Baker was doing.
    â€œHe’s so upset,” Cam told Eric. “He’s stopping everyone. Most of them think he’s crazy.”
    While Cam stood on the chair, she looked across the exhibit hall. She saw her parents with a large circus poster hanging behind them. She saw the wall of cuckoo clocks. Then she saw someone leaving the exhibit hall. It was a teenage boy wearing a bright green jacket. Cam closed her eyes and said, “Click.”
    â€œLet’s go!” Cam shouted to Eric when she opened her eyes. “Someone’s leaving the hall, and he might have the baseball.”
    Cam ran between two women trading rare postage stamps. She crawled under a few tables and almost knocked over a small boy looking at some old toys.
    Eric followed Cam. “I’m sorry. Excuse me,” he said to the two women and the small boy as he hurried past.
    When Cam got to the door she told the guard, “You have to stop him!”
    â€œWhat are you talking about?”
    â€œThat boy in the green jacket. He was there when a valuable baseball was stolen. The baseball was in the exhibit, and I’m sure that boy took it. That’s why he’s in such a rush to get out of here.”
    â€œJust because he’s leaving the hall doesn’t mean he’s a thief,” the guard said.
    The boy in the green jacket turned and saw Cam talking to the guard. He started to run.

    â€œDid you see that!” Eric said. “He saw us talking to you and he started to run.”
    The boy ran around the corner of the building. He was out of sight.
    â€œWe’ll never catch him now,” Cam said.
    â€œYes, we will,” the guard said.
    He ran after the boy. Cam and Eric followed him.
    They ran to a crowded playground on the other side of the building. Two young children were playing catch with a baseball. Others were jumping rope or playing basketball. In one corner of the playground some parents were watching very young children playing in a large sandbox, on seesaws, or on swings.
    The guard ran with Cam and Eric until they got to the other end of the playground.
    â€œHe’s gone,” Cam said. “I don’t see him anywhere.”
    They looked down the street leading from the playground. A few children were walking there. A man was pushing a baby carriage, and there were some people waiting at the bus stop. But no one was