Exhibit 23.1

   Consent of Independent Accountants

   We hereby  consent  to the  incorporation  by  reference  in each  Prospectus
   constituting part of each Post-Effective  Amendment No. 1 on Form S-3 to Form
   S-16 Registration  Statement  (Registration  Nos. 2-62247 and 2-65638) and in
   each Prospectus  constituting part of each Form S-3 Registration Statement or
   Post-Effective  Amendment  (Registration  Nos. 33-3027,  33-16674,  33-19035,
   33-40196  and  33-58741)  and in each  Form  S-8  Registration  Statement  or
   Post-Effective  Amendment  (Registration Nos. 33-21506,  33-40199,  33-37548,
   33-28064,  33-15639,  33-61986,  33-51121,  333-26361 and  333-32393) of Ball
   Corporation  of our report  dated  January 28,  1998,  except as to the note,
   "Subsequent Event," which is as of February 4, 1998 in the 1997 Annual Report
   to  Shareholders  which is  incorporated by reference in the Annual Report on
   Form 10-K.



   /s/ PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP

   Indianapolis, Indiana

   March 31, 1998