John Wesley Covington (March 27, 1932 – July 4, 2011) was an American professional baseball left fielder, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1956 through 1966 for the Milwaukee Braves, Chicago White Sox, Kansas City Athletics, Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs, and Los Angeles Dodgers.

He didn't begin playing baseball until 1950 but his skills caught the eye of Boston Braves scout Dewey Griggs.

While playing for the Eau Claire Bears, he first met team-mate Hank Aaron[2] Covington roomed with Aaron and catcher Julie Bowers, who had played in the Negro leagues, at the local YMCA that season.

Aaron said, “My closest friends on the Eau Clair Bears were (Wes) Covington and especially Julie Bowers.

I often wonder what happened to Bowers … I haven’t heard from since 1952.”[4] In 1957, Covington again found himself in the minors playing for the Wichita Braves.

[2] He was finally called up after the Braves had traded Thomson away to the New York Giants with Ray Crone and Danny O'Connell for Red Schoendienst.

Covington's return sparked the 1957 Braves down the stretch and helped them win the World Series.

[11] Covington first started having problems with his knees in 1958 when he slide into 2nd base in spring training game and was out of action until May 2.

On August 20, 1959, he tore an ankle ligament and missed the remainder of the regular season.

[12] On June 10, he was traded along with Stan Johnson, Bob Shaw and Gerry Staley to the Kansas City Athletics for Andy Carey, Ray Herbert, Don Larsen and Al Pilarcik on June 10.

In 1957 the team hired its first black ballplayer - 30 year-old shortstop, John Kennedy.