That was my first thought, too! Ha.
Agree, too, that this is no smoking gun. If anything, it adds to the mystery, IMO.
I think I may have posted one or both of these here before. As a kid I remember reading about the called shot and wanting to learn the "truth". At the time the only addresses I could find for players that were in the series were Frank Crosetti and Charlie Devens. I think the split response is apropos.
Devens said in a
2003 interview:
"Ruth was being ridden by the Cubs the entire series and he would ride them right back," Devens recalled. "At the time, I did think Babe was pointing to the bleachers, but [shortstop] Frankie Crosetti told me no, he put up one finger to indicate he had another strike coming."
"I think Frankie Crosetti was right, but Babe never denied that he was pointing to the stands," Devens said, chuckling. "Still it was quite extraordinary to see him point, then hit the very next pitch out of the ballpark."
My realization? The truth doesn't matter. I love baseball.