I think it's a combination of rarity in general and the connection to an actual game. Coming from one of only two opening days in Federal League history in the city of Baltimore doesn't hurt either.
I would think that the chances of finding a FL ball that was not used in a FL game would be slim. Most that have come up have been used. I don't know what the market was in 1914 or 1915 for FL balls at sporting goods stores, or if any were sold that way. I presume they were, but it would be nearly impossible to say how many were sold.
For what it's worth, I think the near mint version that sold in 2006 would sell for much more today. Primarily because of its status as one of very, very few clean examples known to exist.
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