<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 SIX MONTHS ENDED
JULY 2, 2000, AND  THE  UNAUDITED  CONDENSED  CONSOLIDATED  BALANCE  SHEET AS OF
JULY 2, 1999, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY  REFERENCE  TO SUCH  FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.

<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                                        
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                    6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               JUL-02-2000
<CASH>                                          34,800
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  353,200
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                    588,200
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                             1,058,800
<PP&E>                                       1,904,700
<DEPRECIATION>                                (864,900)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,759,600
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          719,900
<BONDS>                                      1,107,600
<COMMON>                                       434,500
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                     39,200
<OTHER-SE>                                     189,700
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 2,759,600
<SALES>                                      1,778,800
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             1,778,800
<CGS>                                        1,549,200
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                1,549,200
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              47,200
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 13,000
<INCOME-TAX>                                     7,400
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              4,600
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     4,600
<EPS-BASIC>                                       0.11
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.11