Early Years
Blanks was born in Del Rio, Texas, one of Herbert and Hannah Mae Blanks' eight children. When he was twelve years old, Blanks competed in the 1962 Little League World Series with Val Verde County Little League. Besides baseball, he played basketball and track and was quarterback for San Felipe High School's football team. Upon graduation, he was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the third round of the 1969 Major League Baseball Draft.
Blanks was named team MVP in his first professional season with the Pioneer League's Magic Valley Cowboys. It was around this time he acquired the nickname "Sugar Bear" from teammates Ralph Garr and Darrell Evans due to his aggressive batting style. During his fourth minor league season, he received his first call up to the majors when Braves left fielder Rico Carty went on the disabled list with elbow tendinitis.
Read more about this topic: Larvell Blanks
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