<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
APRIL 4, 1999,  AND THE  UNAUDITED  CONDENSED  CONSOLIDATED  BALANCE SHEET AS OF
APRIL 4, 1999,  AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH  FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                        
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                    3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               APR-04-1999
<CASH>                                          42,100
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  313,300
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                    581,900
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                             1,022,700
<PP&E>                                       1,889,000
<DEPRECIATION>                                (730,900)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,951,400
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          703,800
<BONDS>                                      1,320,300
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                     28,800
<COMMON>                                       375,500
<OTHER-SE>                                     229,900
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 2,951,400
<SALES>                                        820,300
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               820,300
<CGS>                                          726,100
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  726,100
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              28,200
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 24,600
<INCOME-TAX>                                     9,700
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             15,700
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    15,700
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.50
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.47