<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 NINE MONTHS ENDED
OCTOBER 3, 1999, AND THE UNAUDITED  CONDENSED  CONSOLIDATED  BALANCE SHEET AS OF
OCTOBER 3, 1999, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                                        
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                    9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               OCT-03-1999
<CASH>                                          30,600
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  420,700
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                    497,700
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                             1,022,000
<PP&E>                                       1,901,400
<DEPRECIATION>                                (782,700)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,846,700
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          639,400
<BONDS>                                      1,230,100
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                     31,200
<COMMON>                                       407,000
<OTHER-SE>                                     249,400
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 2,846,700
<SALES>                                      2,790,900
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             2,790,900
<CGS>                                        2,437,000
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                2,437,000
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              82,000
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                138,200
<INCOME-TAX>                                    52,400
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             84,700
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    84,700
<EPS-BASIC>                                     2.73
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.55