Larvell Blanks – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Larvell Blanks put together a solid nine-year run in Major League Baseball before he finally called it quits in 1980. Hailing from Del Rio, Texas, he played as an infielder for three teams, showing off his ability to handle different spots on the field.

Blanks hit .253 for his career, with 20 home runs and 172 RBIs in 629 games. He mostly served as a utility guy, sometimes stepping in as a starter for the Atlanta Braves, Cleveland Indians, and Texas Rangers.

People called him “Sugar Bear.” He kind of embodied that era’s player who knew his place—more of a reliable contributor than a superstar. His journey in pro baseball kicked off in 1972 with Atlanta and wrapped up on August 3, 1980, again with the Braves.

He moved around thanks to trades, had some standout games, and dealt with the grind of fighting for starting spots on teams that were rebuilding.

From his Little League World Series days to his last year in the majors, Blanks’ story feels familiar to a lot of players who squeezed every bit out of their talent through grit and flexibility. His career gives you a window into 1970s baseball, the rise of the utility man, and the path of an athlete who made the most of his shot at the top.

Early Life and Athletic Background

Larvell Blanks was born January 28, 1950, in Del Rio, Texas. He grew up in a big family where sports were a huge deal.

His parents, Herbert and Hannah Mae Blanks, raised eight kids—five boys and three girls. Athleticism ran deep in the family.

Family and Relatives in Professional Sports

The Blanks family just kept churning out athletes. Larvell’s uncle, Sid Blanks, played pro football as a running back in the AFL and NFL from 1964 to 1970.

Sid broke some serious ground, helping to integrate Texas college football in 1960. That move set a tone for the rest of the family—breaking barriers was kind of their thing.

Sid’s son, Lance Blanks, took the family tradition into basketball. Lance played three seasons in the NBA starting in 1990, so there’s that crossover into hoops.

The next generation kept it rolling. Riley Blanks, Lance’s daughter, picked up tennis and got pretty good. She sometimes practiced with Larvell, which says a lot about how sports stayed a family glue.

High School Sports Career

At San Felipe Del Rio High School, Larvell stood out in pretty much every sport he tried. He played quarterback for the football team, which was pretty rare for a Black athlete back then.

He ran track and played basketball too, just stacking up the athletic credentials.

But baseball was where he really shined. The Del Rio News-Herald called him “a positive big league prospect” in April 1969. That prediction hit the mark, because Atlanta Braves scout Al LaMacchia soon noticed his talent.

Early Baseball Influences

Larvell’s first taste of the big stage came at the 1962 Little League World Series. He played for Val Verde County Little League, a team made up of Mexican-American, Anglo, and African-American kids.

He got to see legends like Jackie Robinson and Ted Williams up close in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Jackie Robinson signed a ton of autographs, and young Larvell probably snagged one.

His team lost to Pitman, New Jersey, but bounced back to win the consolation bracket. When they got home, 10,000 people lined the streets for a parade. That kind of crowd only showed up when President Eisenhower visited two years before, so yeah, it was a big deal.

The team even got invited to Washington, meeting Senator Ralph Yarborough and Congressman O.C. Fisher. That early brush with the spotlight probably helped Larvell deal with the pressure later on.

Major League Baseball Debut and Early Years

Larvell Blanks started his pro journey with the Atlanta Braves after they picked him in the 1969 draft. He made his MLB debut on July 19, 1972, at just 22, and “Sugar Bear” stuck as his nickname from the start.

Signing and Draft Selection

The Atlanta Braves picked Larvell in the third round of the 1969 draft, 60th overall. Scout Al LaMacchia made sure he signed the young infielder from Del Rio.

Before turning pro, Blanks went to Sul Ross State University. He wasn’t just a baseball player—he’d been a multi-sport standout in high school.

He spent three years working his way up through the minors, sharpening his skills as an infielder in the Braves system.

First Games with Atlanta Braves

Larvell Blanks debuted in the majors on July 19, 1972, facing the Pittsburgh Pirates. He got a hit in three at-bats that first game, kicking off his nine-year career.

His early days with the Braves mostly saw him on the bench as a backup infielder. He didn’t get a lot of action at first, but he learned from the older guys.

Things changed in 1975 when he got a semi-regular spot. He played in 141 games that year, mostly at shortstop, though his .234 average in 471 at-bats left something to be desired.

He lost his rookie status that season after passing MLB’s rookie limits.

Nickname ‘Sugar Bear’

People started calling Larvell “Sugar Bear” during his Braves days. The nickname caught on and even made it into official baseball stats and records.

It kind of fit his vibe and the way he played. Teammates and fans used it all the time.

The name stuck with him through the rest of his career, even after he moved on from the Braves in 1975.

Career with Cleveland Indians and Texas Rangers

Blanks landed with the Cleveland Indians in December 1975 after a trade involving the Chicago White Sox and Jack Brohamer. He played his best baseball in Cleveland from 1976 to 1978, teaming up with Frank Duffy at shortstop and Duane Kuiper at second.

Cleveland Indians: Key Seasons

The Cleveland Indians brought in Blanks by trading Jack Brohamer to the White Sox. That deal kicked off his most productive run in the majors.

Blanks played over 100 games in back-to-back seasons for Cleveland. In 1976, he hit .280 with 5 homers and 41 RBIs in 104 games.

He topped that in 1977, batting .286 with 6 homers and 38 RBIs over 105 games.

Manager Frank Robinson had good things to say about Blanks after 1976, calling him “the toughest man on the club at the plate with men on” when Blanks re-signed.

He had some big moments, like a two-homer, five-RBI game against Toronto on July 8, 1977.

On August 8, 1977, Blanks went 5-for-5 with three doubles against Baltimore, even though Cleveland lost 6-3.

Texas Rangers: Trades and Performance

The Indians traded Blanks and Jim Kern to the Texas Rangers on October 3, 1978. In return, Cleveland got Len Barker and Bobby Bonds.

Blanks struggled in Texas in 1979, stuck behind Nelson Norman and Bump Wills and barely getting on the field.

His numbers took a hit too. He only played 68 games, batting .200 with 1 homer and 15 RBIs in 138 at-bats.

That year was rough—his worst in the majors. Not much went right, and he hardly played.

In December 1979, the Rangers traded Blanks, Doyle Alexander, and $50,000 to the Braves for Adrian Devine and Pepe Frias.

So, Blanks found himself back in Atlanta, where it all began.

Fielding Versatility and Playing Style

Larvell Blanks made a living by being flexible. He bounced between shortstop, second base, and third base during his nine years in the majors. His defensive versatility kept him valuable, even if his fielding numbers weren’t always pretty.

Infielder Roles: SS, 2B, 3B

Blanks mostly played shortstop, especially for the Braves in 1975 when he started 121 games there.

With Cleveland from 1976 to 1978, he split time between shortstop and second base, sharing the field with Frank Duffy and Duane Kuiper.

He also filled in at third base when needed. In 1980, Blanks took over third for the Braves while Bob Horner was sent down after a slow start.

Frank Robinson liked Blanks’ bat in clutch spots, but Blanks himself wanted more than just utility duty—he thought he could be a regular starter.

Defensive Statistics and Highlights

Blanks’ glove work had its ups and downs. As Atlanta’s main shortstop in 1975, he made 25 errors in 121 games.

His defensive issues followed him to Cleveland. In 1978, he racked up 13 errors in just 43 games at short, which got him benched after mid-May.

That kind of fielding made it tough for him to stick as a starter. Manager Frank Robinson usually preferred Frank Duffy’s steady glove at shortstop.

Even so, Blanks managed to stay on rosters as a reliable backup infielder. His ability to play all over the infield kept him in the big leagues for nearly a decade.

Notable Position Changes

Blanks went through a few position changes. The Braves thought about using him at second base in 1972 when Rico Carty got hurt, but they ended up bringing in Dave Johnson instead.

When he got traded to Cleveland in 1975, he found more playing time sharing the middle infield with established vets.

In 1978, the Indians traded Frank Duffy to Boston, so Blanks got a shot at starting shortstop. But his defense let him down, and he lost the job after piling up errors.

Back in Atlanta in 1980, he filled in at third base while Bob Horner was in the minors. Even with his bat cooling off, Blanks still found ways to help out.

Batting Achievements and Performance Metrics

Larvell Blanks finished his career with a .253 batting average, 20 home runs, and 172 RBIs in nine MLB seasons. His best years at the plate came with the Cleveland Indians from 1976 to 1978, when his numbers looked a lot better than his career averages.

Career Batting Statistics

Blanks played 629 games and picked up 446 hits in 1,766 at-bats. He posted a .253 average, a .302 on-base percentage, and a .335 slugging percentage.

He hit 57 doubles, 14 triples, and 20 home runs. He walked 132 times and struck out 178, which isn’t bad for that era.

His best stretch came in 1972 with Atlanta, when he hit .329 with a .376 OBP in 33 games, though that was a small sample.

Blanks scored 203 runs in his career and drove in 172. He also stole 9 bases, though he got caught 7 times.

Runs, RBI, and WAR Value

Blanks scored 203 runs in his career. In 1975, he hit his highest single-season mark with 49 runs.

He peaked at 41 RBIs in 1976 while playing for Cleveland. That year, he really found his stride.

His career WAR (Wins Above Replacement) came out to 3.2, which shows he gave a bit more than a replacement-level player. In 1976, he reached a WAR of 2.0, and in 1977, he posted a 1.2, both with the Indians.

The 1976 season stands out. Blanks batted .280, picked up 92 hits, and scored 45 runs in 104 games. That performance got him his best single-season WAR.

He never drove in more than 41 runs in a season. Over his whole career, he averaged 44 RBIs per 162 games.

Performance with Key Teams

Blanks definitely played better in the American League than the National League. With Cleveland from 1976 to 1978, he hit .276, while with Atlanta, he managed only .235.

His three years with the Indians gave him his best numbers. He hit .280 in 1976, .286 in 1977, and .254 in 1978, all higher than his career average.

When he played for Atlanta (1972-1975, 1980), he struggled at the plate, finishing with a .235 average in 282 games. The 1975 season was tough—he batted .234 in 141 games.

His time with Texas in 1979 didn’t go well either. He hit just .200 in 68 games, and that year pretty much signaled the start of his decline before he went back to Atlanta for his last season in 1980.

Career Milestones, Trades, and Retirement

Larvell Blanks moved around a fair bit during his nine seasons in the majors. He started with the Atlanta Braves, went to the Cleveland Indians, then finished up with the Texas Rangers before retiring in August 1980.

Major Trades and Team Changes

The Atlanta Braves drafted Blanks in the third round of the 1969 MLB June Amateur Draft out of San Felipe High School in Del Rio, Texas. He made his MLB debut in 1972 with Atlanta and spent his early years there, learning the ropes as an infielder.

He got traded to the Cleveland Indians, which turned out to be a big move for him. In Cleveland, Blanks showed he could handle shortstop, second base, and third base, making himself a valuable utility infielder.

He ended up with the Texas Rangers for his final MLB stop. That move wrapped up his big-league career, and he finished with the Rangers in 1980.

Final MLB Season and Retirement in 1980

Blanks played his final MLB season with the Texas Rangers in 1980 at age 30. His last game came on August 3, 1980, against the Montreal Expos, where he had one at-bat and didn’t get a hit.

By the end of his career, Blanks had a .253 batting average over nine seasons. He collected 446 hits, 20 home runs, and 172 RBIs.

Blanks, a 5’8″, 167-pound right-handed hitter, played for three teams during his time in the majors. He started his career at just 22 years old and called it a day after nearly a decade.

Post-MLB Playing Career

Not much info is out there about Blanks’ immediate post-MLB playing days. Back then, a lot of guys kept playing in the minors or headed overseas after their major league careers ended.

Most players eventually moved on to something else, but sources don’t offer many details about what Blanks did right after he left the majors.

Personal Life and Legacy

After baseball, Larvell Blanks dove into education and coaching. He became a teacher and tennis coach in his Texas hometown, earning respect in both roles. His family has kept the athletic tradition alive, with relatives finding success in football, basketball, and tennis.

Life after Baseball

When he retired in 1980, Blanks went back to Del Rio, Texas. He married Rosemary Fay and had three kids: Jeffrey (born 1970), Debra Lynn (born 1971), and Asuleyna (born 1977).

Blanks didn’t just walk away from baseball. He played five summers in Mexican pro leagues and later joined the Senior Professional Baseball Association, showing he still loved the game.

He branched out after his playing days. Blanks developed a real passion for golf, taking on a new sport later in life. That athletic versatility really matched his reputation as a utility infielder during his MLB years.

Community Involvement and Education

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Blanks worked as a teacher and tennis coach at Del Rio High School. He wanted to give back to the community that had always stood by him during his baseball journey.

He even coached family. Blanks often practiced tennis with his younger relative Riley Blanks, who is the daughter of his cousin Lance. Riley ended up playing tennis at the University of Virginia.

Mentoring fit Blanks perfectly. People used to describe him as “quiet and coachable” when he played. His time as a professional athlete gave him plenty of advice to share with young players working on their game.

Legacy in Baseball History

Blanks stands out in baseball history as one of just 32 players who made it to the major leagues after playing in the Little League World Series.

Back in 1962, he played for the Val Verde County Little League on a diverse team that actually won the consolation bracket.

His family really left a mark in sports, too. Uncle Sid Blanks played in the AFL and NFL from 1964 to 1970.

His cousin, Lance Blanks, spent three seasons in the NBA starting in 1990 and eventually took over as general manager of the Phoenix Suns.

People started calling him “Sugar Bear,” not because of how he looked, but thanks to his intense hitting style during the 1969 Arizona Instructional League.

Honestly, his story feels like the journey of so many utility players who quietly built the foundation of professional baseball.