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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000009389-05-000029.txt : 20050211
<SEC-HEADER>0000009389-05-000029.hdr.sgml : 20050211
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050211150930
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000009389-05-000029
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050211
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050211
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050211

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BALL CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000009389
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	METAL CANS [3411]
		IRS NUMBER:				350160610
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			IN
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10 LONGS PEAK DRIVE
		CITY:			BROOMFIELD
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80021-2510
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3034695511

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 5000
		CITY:			BROOMFIELD
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80038-5000

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	BALL BROTHERS CO
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19731115

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DEAN HOWARD M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001037490

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-07349
		FILM NUMBER:		05597913

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9136966106

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O YELLOW CORP
		STREET 2:		10990 ROE AVENUE
		CITY:			OVERLAND PARK
		STATE:			KS
		ZIP:			66211-1213
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgardoc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-02-11</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000009389</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BALL CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BLL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001037490</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DEAN HOWARD M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>BALL CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>10 LONGS PEAK DR.</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BROOMFIELD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CO</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>80021-2510</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-02-11</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>319</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>43.98</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>79954</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>by Spouse</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">1/2 of annual incentive retainer is given in a restricted stock award</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The reporting person expressly disclaims beneficial ownership of these securities.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Charles E. Baker, GenCounsel&amp;AsstCorpSec  For: Howard M. Dean</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-02-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-24
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>poadean.txt
<DESCRIPTION>EDGAR SUPPORTING DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
POWER OF ATTORNEY


KNOW ALL BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned hereby
constitutes and appoints David A. Westerlund and Charles E. Baker
and Robert W. McClelland, and each of them acting or signing alone,
as his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact to:

(1) execute for and on behalf of the undersigned, in the
undersigned's capacity as a director of Ball Corporation (the
"Company"), any and all reports required to be filed by the
undersigned in accordance with Section 16(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules thereunder;

(2) do and perform any and all acts for and on behalf of the
undersigned which may be necessary or desirable to complete and
execute any such Form 3, 4 or 5 or other required report and timely file
such report with the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission and any stock exchange or similar authority; and

(3) take any other action of any type whatsoever in
connection with the foregoing which, in the opinion of such attorney-
in-fact, may be of benefit to, in the best interest of, or legally required
by, the undersigned, it being understood that the documents executed
by such attorney-in-fact on behalf of the undersigned, pursuant to this
Power of Attorney, shall be in such form and shall contain such terms
and conditions as such attorney-in-fact may approve in his discretion.

The undersigned hereby grants to each such attorney-in-fact full power
and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
whatsoever requisite, necessary, and proper to be done in the exercise
of any of the rights and powers herein granted, as fully to all intents
and purposes as the undersigned might or could do if personally
present, with full power of substitution or revocation, hereby ratifying
and confirming all that such attorney-in-fact, or his or her substitute or
substitutes, shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue of this
Power of Attorney and the rights and powers herein granted. The
undersigned acknowledges that no such attorney-in-fact, in serving in
such capacity at the request of the undersigned, is hereby assuming,
nor is the Company hereby assuming, any of the undersigned's
responsibilities to comply with Section 16 of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934.

This Power of Attorney shall remain in full force and effect until the
undersigned is no longer required to file reports under Section 16 with
respect to the undersigned's holdings of and transactions in securities
issued by the Company, unless earlier revoked by the undersigned in a
signed writing delivered to the foregoing attorneys-in-fact.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Power of
Attorney to be executed as of this 20th day of January 2005.


Signature:     /s/   Howard M. Dean

Printed Name:          Howard M. Dean
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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