June 7, 2001                                                                                         Exhibit 23.1


                                        CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS


We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 of Ball Corporation
of our report dated January 24, 2001, relating to the financial statements included in Ball Corporation's Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000.




/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP
Denver, Colorado
June 7, 2001