Wes Covington – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

John Wesley Covington wrapped up his Major League Baseball career in 1966 after eleven seasons as a left fielder. He started his journey with the Milwaukee Braves back in 1956.

Covington was born in Laurinburg, North Carolina. Over his career, he played for six different teams: the Braves, Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago White Sox, Kansas City Athletics, Chicago Cubs, and Los Angeles Dodgers.

Covington put up consistent numbers—131 home runs, 499 RBIs, and a .279 batting average in 1,075 games. He shined brightest in 1957 and 1958 with Milwaukee, locking down the left field job and helping the team stay competitive. Military service took him away in 1954 for a bit, but he came back and made his major league debut on April 19, 1956.

If you look at Covington’s career, you see a player who blended personal milestones with real team impact. His story covers his defense, background, and the mark he left as baseball moved from the 1950s into the mid-1960s.

Wes Covington’s Major League Baseball Career

Wes Covington played 11 seasons in Major League Baseball from 1956 to 1966. He earned a reputation as a skilled left fielder and clutch hitter.

He played for six teams and won a World Series championship with the Milwaukee Braves in 1957.

Debut and Early Years

Covington debuted in the MLB on April 19, 1956, with the Milwaukee Braves at age 24. The Boston Braves organization signed him in 1952 after scout Dewey Griggs spotted his talent.

He started his professional career with the Class C Eau Claire Bears in 1952. That’s where he met future Hall of Famer Hank Aaron—they became close friends and teammates.

Covington shared a room with Aaron and catcher Julie Bowers at the local YMCA that season. That friendship with Aaron stuck with him throughout his Braves years.

His jump from the minors took some time. He only started playing baseball in 1950, since he’d been a football star at Hillside High School in Durham, North Carolina.

Role with the Braves

Covington’s prime years happened with the Milwaukee Braves from 1956 to 1961. He played a key role during the team’s championship run in 1957.

At first, the Braves sent him to the minors in 1957. They brought him back after trading Bobby Thomson to the New York Giants for Red Schoendienst.

His return gave the team a spark for their late-season charge to the World Series. In the second half of 1957, Covington hit .284 with 21 home runs and 65 RBIs in just 96 games.

He made a huge impact with his defense in the World Series against the Yankees. Covington pulled off two spectacular catches in left field during games 2 and 5, helping pitcher Lew Burdette secure wins.

He hit .208 in the series, but his defense and base running mattered most. In 1958, Covington had his best season—he hit .330 with 24 home runs and 74 RBIs in 90 games.

On May 31, 1958, he joined Aaron and Eddie Mathews in hitting three consecutive home runs against Pittsburgh.

Injuries started to slow him down in 1958, when he hurt his knee sliding into second base during spring training. Then in August 1959, he tore an ankle ligament and missed the rest of that season.

Transition Between Teams

By 1961, Covington’s knees and conditioning problems caught up with him. The Braves put him on waivers after just 9 games when he showed up to camp out of shape.

The Chicago White Sox picked him up on May 10, 1961. He played 22 games with Chicago, batting .288 with 4 home runs and 15 RBIs.

On June 10, 1961, the White Sox traded Covington and three other players to the Kansas City Athletics for four players, including Don Larsen and Andy Carey.

Covington found stability with the Philadelphia Phillies from 1961 to 1965. He became the first African-American player to play a major role for the Phillies, who were the last National League team to integrate.

For five years in Philadelphia, Covington worked as a part-time outfielder and pinch-hitter. He hit .284 with 61 home runs and 237 RBIs for the Phillies.

Retirement in 1966

Covington started his last season with the Chicago Cubs in 1966. The Cubs released him on May 11 after he saw little playing time.

On May 28, 1966, the Los Angeles Dodgers signed him as a free agent. The Dodgers made it to the World Series that year, but lost to the Baltimore Orioles in four games.

Covington’s final MLB appearance came as a pinch-hitter in Game 1 of the 1966 World Series. He struck out while batting for relief pitcher Bob Miller.

After the season, the Dodgers released him, closing out his 11-year career. Covington finished with a .279 batting average, 131 home runs, and 499 RBIs in 1,075 games.

Even as knee injuries took their toll, Covington kept producing at the plate. He put up a .337 on-base percentage and .466 slugging percentage during his career.

Statistical Overview and Achievements

Wes Covington posted impressive offensive stats over his 11-season MLB career. He hit .279, smashed 131 home runs, and drove in 499 runs across 1,075 games.

His best years came in the late 1950s and early 1960s, especially his brilliant 1958 season and his big role in Milwaukee’s 1957 World Series win.

Batting Performance and Offensive Metrics

Covington’s numbers show he was a steady power threat with good contact skills. He collected 832 hits in 2,978 at-bats, scored 355 runs, and kept a .337 on-base percentage with a .466 slugging percentage.

He drew 247 walks and struck out 414 times. Covington hit 128 doubles and 17 triples, racking up 1,387 total bases.

He grounded into 73 double plays and got hit by pitches 24 times. He had 16 sacrifice hits and 26 sacrifice flies, and pitchers intentionally walked him 51 times—clearly, they respected his power.

Covington didn’t steal much—just 7 stolen bases and 4 caught stealing. His career WAR was 9.1, which averages out to 1.4 WAR per 162 games.

Notable Season Highlights

Covington’s 1958 season was his best. He hit .330 with 24 home runs and 74 RBIs in 324 plate appearances, finishing with a 1.003 OPS and 170 OPS+.

That year, he placed 16th in National League MVP voting. His 3.3 WAR was the highest he ever posted in a season.

His 1957 campaign was almost as strong. He hit 21 homers with 65 RBIs and played a big part in Milwaukee’s World Series run.

In 1963 with Philadelphia, Covington kept showing his power at age 31. He hit 17 home runs with 64 RBIs and a .303 average, proving he could still swing it.

Standout Postseason Moments

Covington’s biggest achievement came with Milwaukee’s 1957 World Series win over the New York Yankees. His postseason efforts helped lock down the franchise’s only championship in Milwaukee.

He hit with power when it mattered most. His clutch hitting fit right in with a Braves lineup that had Hank Aaron and Eddie Mathews.

We don’t have tons of postseason stats for him, but his regular season numbers during championship years show he stepped up under pressure. His 1957 season really translated to postseason success.

That World Series ring stands as the highlight of his pro career. It backs up his reputation as a key player on one of baseball’s most memorable championship teams.

Defensive Skills and Playing Style

Wes Covington was known for his bat, not really for his glove. Defensive limitations became more obvious after leg injuries slowed him down. Still, he pulled off some memorable catches that made a difference in big games.

Outfield Techniques and Reputation

Covington’s defense got mixed reviews. He had more errors than assists as an outfielder, which pointed to struggles with routine plays.

Those issues got worse after knee and ankle injuries in the late 1950s. The knee injury in 1958 and the ankle ligament tear in 1959 really cut down his range.

Covington admitted his defense wasn’t his strong suit. He once said, “They don’t pay outfielders for what they do with the glove,” making it clear he focused on hitting.

Key Defensive Statistics:

• More career errors than assists
• Managers often replaced him with defensive substitutes late in games
• Leg injuries limited his range and speed

Philadelphia Phillies manager Gene Mauch regularly pulled Covington for defense in close games. This became common during Covington’s time with the Phillies from 1961 to 1965.

Memorable Catches and Plays

Even with his defensive issues, Covington made two spectacular catches in the 1957 World Series. Those moments helped the Braves win the championship.

In Game 2, Covington sprinted and caught Bobby Shantz’s liner down the left-field line, saving two runs in the second inning with men on base.

Game 5 had another highlight. Covington jumped above the wall in left to rob Gil McDougald of a home run, preserving a 1-0 win for the Braves.

After the Game 2 catch, Covington’s popularity in Milwaukee soared. He said, “I couldn’t get any sleep at home. The phone kept ringing. Why, I bet I’ve got a hundred telegrams so far.”

Those plays showed that, when healthy and locked in, Covington could pull off the spectacular—even if defense wasn’t his calling card.

Personal Life and Early Background

John Wesley Covington was born March 27, 1932, in Laurinburg, North Carolina. Laurinburg is a small town about 100 miles southeast of Charlotte, near the South Carolina border.

Covington found success in football, basketball, and track during high school. Oddly enough, he didn’t play baseball at first.

Early Years in North Carolina

Wes Covington grew up in Laurinburg and stood out as an athlete early on. At 6-foot-1 and 205 pounds, he showed versatility across several sports.

He built his athletic foundation in this small North Carolina town. As he hit his teens, Covington’s natural ability became obvious.

He was a “B” student academically—solid, not spectacular. Colleges noticed him for more than just one sport.

Covington’s childhood unfolded in the segregated South of the 1930s and 1940s. Those experiences shaped his outlook as he entered pro baseball during the early days of integration.

High School and Athletic Development

Covington started his high school career at Laurinburg High School. Later, he transferred to Hillside High School in Durham.

He made the move mainly because Durham had a stronger athletics program, which seemed to promise better chances for growth.

At Hillside, Covington played as a running back in football. He shared the backfield with Tom Wilson, who later joined the Los Angeles Rams.

Covington’s skills on the football field earned him all-state honors twice as a fullback.

He didn’t just stick to one sport. Covington also kicked for the football team and showed off his speed on the track. He could run the 100 meters in 9.9 seconds, which is pretty impressive.

Colleges took notice of his football talent. He got scholarship offers from North Carolina State, UCLA, and several smaller colleges.

Oddly enough, baseball wasn’t part of his high school sports life. He played his first organized baseball game in 1950 with local semipro teams. Despite never playing high school baseball, he still made it to the North Carolina-South Carolina High School Baseball All-Star Game.

Military Service and Impact on Baseball Journey

Wes Covington’s baseball career hit a major pause when he got called up for military service in 1954. The Boston Braves had signed him just two years earlier, in 1952.

Missing the 1954 Season

Because of military service, Covington missed the entire 1954 baseball season. That year could’ve been key for his progress as a pro. He was still moving through the minor leagues back then.

Timeline of Service Impact

Return to Professional Baseball

Covington came back to the Braves organization in 1955 after finishing his military duties. He spent another year in the minors and then finally made his major league debut on April 19, 1956.

Missing a year didn’t end his career. By 1957, he became the Milwaukee Braves’ regular left fielder. His time in the military mirrored what a lot of players went through back then, since military duty often interrupted sports careers.

Retirement Years and Legacy

After he retired in 1966, Wes Covington jumped into a business career in western Canada. He spent his later years as a respected member of the Edmonton community.

His life after baseball included running businesses and working in newspapers until he passed away in 2011.

Business Ventures and Post-Baseball Life

When Covington left pro baseball, he moved to western Canada and started a business. He opened a sporting goods shop, using his baseball background and connections to help out the local sports crowd.

Covington didn’t stop there. He moved into the media world and found steady work at the Edmonton Sun newspaper. For 20 years, he worked as the advertising manager, becoming a familiar face in Edmonton’s business circles.

Working in both retail and media showed how well he could adapt outside of baseball. The sporting goods business kept him close to sports, while his newspaper job let him use his communication skills and business smarts.

Residence in Canada

Covington settled down in Edmonton, Alberta after his baseball days ended. That was a big change from his North Carolina roots and all those years traveling as a ballplayer.

He became a naturalized Canadian resident and really made Edmonton his home. Spending two decades at the Edmonton Sun helped make him a respected figure in the community, separate from his baseball legacy.

Choosing to stay in western Canada, far from the usual baseball hotspots, said a lot about his wish to build a new life after playing. Edmonton gave him the stability and chances he wanted in his post-baseball years.

Commemoration and Resting Place

Wes Covington passed away on July 4, 2011 in Edmonton, Alberta at 79, after a tough fight with cancer. His life really bridged American baseball glory and, later on, Canadian business.

He died on Independence Day, which feels especially meaningful considering his roots and what he did for baseball in the 1950s and 1960s. That 1957 World Series win with the Milwaukee Braves? People still talk about it as his biggest moment.

Covington’s legacy sticks around, not just because of that championship season but also thanks to his community involvement in Edmonton. After baseball, he dove into business and showed how athletes can thrive if they plan for life after sports.