I can only give you examples from my collection.

Generally any ball with a specific event is usually tied to that event, I was told per Cook this was THE ball,


In any game, a team can provide the entire team a "Gameball", so at times and as is the case with several Jamal Lewis' balls I have they never saw a brush, let alone the field.



I've heard some cheaper teams, or when limited players get a ball this is not the case. My oldest (1984) was clearly a gamer.




No expert here, but I would say that ball is not used. Any actual game ball was more than likely reserved for elite players. They also would not have had that many to go around.