Thank you all for your suggestions. You were right (of course) it was bugging me so much I couldn't sleep and was thinking about this. So when I got up this morning the first thing I did (after making coffee of course) was to look at it closer to figure out the best way to get the pin out. As it turned out the shaft of the pin was facing sideways (parallel to the edge) so I was able to maneuver the ball over and out between stitches pretty easily. The whole pin was intact and is now gone. I put it right in the little Rx jar with the childproof cap I use to store the bent pins and needles so no one gets hurt. I will take it to my LQS when full and the shop owner will add them with hers to dispose of. No more sleepless nights for me! Now if I could just figure out how to post a pic from my IPad I would show you the cute little runner - pin free
. Thanks again for all your help!