He played in Major League Baseball as an infielder from 1972 through 1980 for the Atlanta Braves, Cleveland Indians and Texas Rangers.

Besides baseball, he played basketball and track and was a quarterback for San Felipe High School's football team.

It was around this time he acquired the nickname "Sugar Bear" from teammates Ralph Garr and Darrell Evans due to his aggressive batting style.

[4] 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.

During the off-season, regular second baseman Félix Millán was dealt to the New York Mets,[6] seemingly opening the door for Blanks to inherit the second base job until the Braves acquired Davey Johnson from the Baltimore Orioles four weeks later.

Blanks was traded twice on December 12, 1975, the same day at the Winter Meetings that the Braves upgraded at shortstop with the acquisition of Darrel Chaney from the Cincinnati Reds for Mike Lum: first to the Chicago White Sox with Ralph Garr for Ken Henderson, Dick Ruthven and Dan Osborn, then to the Cleveland Indians for Jack Brohamer.

[11] Though Duffy remained the primary shortstop over the rest of the season, Blanks saw an upswing in playing time under new manager Jeff Torborg.

After the season, he and Doyle Alexander were traded to the Atlanta Braves for Jeff Burroughs, Adrian Devine, and Pepe Frías.

He signed a minor league deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1981,[17] but decided to head to Mexico instead, playing for the Azules de Coatzacoalcos.