EXHIBIT 23.1

Exhibit 23.1

Consent of Independent Accountants

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in each Prospectus
constituting part of each Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 on Form S-3 to Form
S-16 Registration Statement (Registration Nos. 2-62247 and 2-65638) and in
each Prospectus constituting part of each Form S-3 Registration Statement or
Post-Effective Amendment (Registration Nos. 33-3027, 33-16674, 33-19035,
33-40196 and 33-58741) and in each Form S-8 Registration Statement or
Post-Effective Amendment (Registration Nos. 33-21506, 33-40199, 33-37548,
33-28064, 33-15639, 33-61986, 33-51121, 333-26361 and 333-32393) of Ball
Corporation of our report dated January 28, 1998, except as to the note,
"Subsequent Event," which is as of February 4, 1998 in the 1997 Annual Report
to Shareholders which is incorporated by reference in the Annual Report on
Form 10-K.



/s/ PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP

Indianapolis, Indiana

March 31, 1998