This is EXACTLY the kind of information I was hoping to get regarding this item and i appreciate you going out of your way to put together a detailed and helpful response.
I actually won the ball as a door prize (complete in case) back in 2001 so there was no outlay on my part and any money I make on it if i was to sell it would be a win. However it's a pretty cool piece that I wasn't actually thinking of selling, rather to gauge it's current worth.
I may also need to pump it up now though haha.
if you ever do want to move it on plz let me know