Ball Corporation Form 4 for Midgett

4
1

NYSE

0001205944

Officer

Ball Corporation

0000009389
IRS-NUMBER  35-0160610

03/31/03

4

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 4

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

[    ]   Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16.
Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue.


1.

Name and Address of Reporting Person(s)
Midgett, Leon A.
10 Longs Peak Dr.
Broomfield, CO 80021-2510


2.

Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
Ball Corporation (BLL)


3.

I.R.S. Identification Number of Reporting Person, if an entity (Voluntary)


4.

Statement for Month/Day/Year
3/31/2003


5.

If Amendment, Date of Original (Month/Day/Year)


6.

Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable)
[  ] Director   [  ] 10% Owner  [X] Officer (give title below)   [  ] Other (specify below)
EXEC. V.P., & COO PACKAGING


7.

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 Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
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1)Title of Security                           2)Trans-    3.Trans- 4.Securities Acquired(A)      5)Amount of    6)  7)Nature of
                                              action      action   or Disposed of (D)            Securities         Indirect
                                              Date        Code                   A               Beneficially   D   Beneficial
                                              (Month/                            or              Owned at       or  Ownership
                                              Day/Year)   Code V   Amount        D  Price        End of Month   I
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Common Stock                                  03/31/03    M        5,000         A  $22.1250                    D  Direct
Common Stock                                  03/31/03    M        15,000        A  $21.2250                    D  Direct
Common Stock                                  03/31/03    S        20,000        D  $55.6500     69,377         D  Direct
Common Stock                                                                                     867            I  401(k) plan


Table II (PART 1)  Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned  (Columns 1 through 6)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1)Title of Derivative          2)Conversion    3)Trans-       4)Trans-  5)Number of Derivative            6)Date Exercisable and
Security                       or Exercise     action         action    Securities Acquired (A)           Expiration Date
                               Price of        Date           Code      or Disposed of (D)
                               Derivative
                               Security                       Code  V   A                D                Exercisable  Expiration
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Employee Stock Option (right to$21.2250        03/31/03       M                          15,000           (1)          03/06/11
 buy)
Employee Stock Option (right to$22.1250        03/31/03       M                          5,000            (1)          09/22/09
 buy)


Table II (PART 2)  Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned  (Columns 1,3 and 7 through 11)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1)Title of Derivative          3)Trans-  7)Title and Amount                           8)Price     9)Number of   10) 11)Nature of
Security                       action    of Underlying                                of Deri-    Derivative        Indirect
                               Date      Securities                                   vative      Securities    D   Beneficial
                                                                        Amount or     Security    Beneficially  or  Ownership
                                                                        Number of                 Owned at      I
                  -                      Title                          Shares                    End of Month
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Employee Stock Option (right to03/31/03  Common Stock                   15,000                    30,000        D   Direct
 buy)
Employee Stock Option (right to03/31/03  Common Stock                   5,000                     5,000         D   Direct
 buy)


Explanation of Responses:

(1)  Shares exercisable beginning one year after grant in 25% increments.
 -  Total number of Common Shares directly owned includes shares acquired through participation in the Ball
Corporation Employee Stock Purchase Plan.  Total number of 401(k) Plan shares includes shares acquired through periodic dividend
reinvestment and employer matching contributions.


SIGNATURE OF REPORTING PERSON
/S/  By:  Mary L. Rose, Dir., Exec. Comp. Prog.

For:  Leon A. Midgett

DATE  03/31/03