<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
EXHIBIT 27.1
                               BALL CORPORATION
                             FINANCIAL DATA SCHEDULE

THIS  SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL   INFORMATION  EXTRACTED  FROM  THE
UNAUDITED CONDENSED  CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED
MARCH 29, 1998 AND THE  UNAUDITED  CONDENSED  CONSOLIDATED  BALANCE  SHEET AS OF
MARCH 29, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED  IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH  FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                        
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                    3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-29-1998
<CASH>                                          41,300
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  315,700
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                    414,700
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               818,800
<PP&E>                                       1,543,700
<DEPRECIATION>                                 662,400
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,107,000
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          861,600
<BONDS>                                        359,500
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                     22,900
<COMMON>                                       342,000
<OTHER-SE>                                     271,300
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 2,107,000
<SALES>                                        549,700
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               549,700
<CGS>                                          491,200
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  491,200
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              12,700
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  6,100
<INCOME-TAX>                                     3,100
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              5,300
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     5,300
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.15
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.14