Major League Baseball Player. For eleven seasons (1956 to 1966), he played at the outfielder (primarily left-field) position with the Milwaukee Braves, Chicago White Sox, Kansas City Athletics, Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers. Born John Wesley Covington in Laurinburg, North Carolina, he was signed as an amateur free agent by the Boston Braves in 1952. Following the franchise's relocation to Milwaukee, he marked his Major League debut on April 19th, 1956 and played in 75 games that year, recording 39 hits with a .283 batting average. In 1957, he played on the first of two consecutive National League Pennant-winning teams and belted 21 home runs while appearing in 96 games, sharing the outfield with Hank Aaron and Bill Bruton for the Braves that year. During the 1957 World Series, Covington (who recorded 5 hits with an RBI) provided defensive heroics which contributed to Milwaukee's capturing of the championship over the New York Yankees. During their 1958 pennant drive, he hit 24 home runs while posting a .330 batting average in 90 games played. In the 1958 World Series, he recorded 7 hits and 4 RBIs. He concluded his career as a member of the Dodgers' squad which clinched the 1966 National League Pennant and recorded one plate appearance during that World Series. In 1,075 regular season games, he amassed 832 hits with 131 home runs and a .279 lifetime batting average. He appeared in 15 World Series contests. Following his baseball career, Covington settled in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, where he ran a sporting goods business and later served as an advertising manager with the Edmonton Sun. He died from cancer.
Major League Baseball Player. For eleven seasons (1956 to 1966), he played at the outfielder (primarily left-field) position with the Milwaukee Braves, Chicago White Sox, Kansas City Athletics, Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers. Born John Wesley Covington in Laurinburg, North Carolina, he was signed as an amateur free agent by the Boston Braves in 1952. Following the franchise's relocation to Milwaukee, he marked his Major League debut on April 19th, 1956 and played in 75 games that year, recording 39 hits with a .283 batting average. In 1957, he played on the first of two consecutive National League Pennant-winning teams and belted 21 home runs while appearing in 96 games, sharing the outfield with Hank Aaron and Bill Bruton for the Braves that year. During the 1957 World Series, Covington (who recorded 5 hits with an RBI) provided defensive heroics which contributed to Milwaukee's capturing of the championship over the New York Yankees. During their 1958 pennant drive, he hit 24 home runs while posting a .330 batting average in 90 games played. In the 1958 World Series, he recorded 7 hits and 4 RBIs. He concluded his career as a member of the Dodgers' squad which clinched the 1966 National League Pennant and recorded one plate appearance during that World Series. In 1,075 regular season games, he amassed 832 hits with 131 home runs and a .279 lifetime batting average. He appeared in 15 World Series contests. Following his baseball career, Covington settled in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, where he ran a sporting goods business and later served as an advertising manager with the Edmonton Sun. He died from cancer.
Bio by: C.S.
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