Form: 3

Initial statement of beneficial ownership of securities

April 8, 2004

SEC Form 3
FORM 3 UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

INITIAL STATEMENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES


Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person*
BAKER CHARLES E
(Last) (First) (Middle)
BALL CORPORATION
10 LONGS PEAK DR.
(Street)
BROOMFIELD CO 80021-2510
(City) (State) (Zip)
2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year)
04/01/2004 		3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
BALL CORP [ BLL ]
4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
Director 10% Owner
X Officer (give title below) Other (specify below)
GEN COUNSEL AND ASST CORP SEC
 5. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)
X Form filed by One Reporting Person
Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 4) 2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned (Instr. 4) 3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 5) 4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 5)
Common Stock 17,159 D
Common Stock 378 I 401(k) plan
Common Stock 100 I by Daughter
Common Stock 160 I by Son
Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 4) 2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year) 3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 4) 4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 5. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 5) 6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 5)
Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Stock Option (right to buy) 04/25/2000 04/25/2010 Common Stock 1,000 16.5313 D
Stock Option (right to buy) 04/21/1998 04/21/2008 Common Stock 2,800 17.9688 D
Stock Option (right to buy) 03/06/2001 03/06/2011 Common Stock 5,000 21.225 D
Stock Option (right to buy) 04/27/1999 04/27/2009 Common Stock 4,000 27.5625 D
Stock Option (right to buy) 04/23/2002 04/23/2012 Common Stock 4,000 47.49 D
Stock Option (right to buy) 04/22/2003 04/22/2013 Common Stock 2,000 56.31 D
Explanation of Responses:
Remarks:
Total number of 401(k) Plan shares include shares acquired through periodic dividend reinvestment and employer matching contributions.
By: Robert W. McClelland, AssocGenCoun For: Charles E. Baker 04/08/2004
** Signature of Reporting Person Date

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 5 (b)(v).

** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).

Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.

Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB Number.