By the time he found out it would be too late. Crane knew he could not force a billionaire World Series champion to accept a challenge from a 12-year-old boy he had already forgotten. He would let Sullivan's pride do it for him. Crane understood Sullivan the way a locksmith understands a lock. Not by studying the metal, but by studying the mechanism.
Sullivan's mechanism was ego. 18 years after retirement, every media appearance, every trophy case, every coaching clinic existed to reinforce one belief. I am still the greatest. Threaten that belief publicly and Sullivan had no choice but to respond because silence to a man like him was surrender. Crane sent the challenge through Sullivan's management team.
Formal, written. One public exhibition at a major Chicago stadium. Wesley pitches three balls to Sullivan. Strikeout, Sullivan pays $100 million. Sullivan connects on even one, Crane pays $100 million.
Live broadcast, full media. Sullivan's lawyers responded in 4 hours. Mr. Sullivan declines. Crane was counting on it. The refusal was step one.
Step two, he leaked the story. Not the proposal, the showcase footage. Someone had filmed Wesley's declaration on their phone. Crane made sure it surfaced. The video hit social media like gasoline on a spark.
The headline wrote itself. South Side kid challenges World Series MVP. I'll win $100 million in three pitches. Champion refuses. Refuses.