Tabler graduated from St. Mary's Elementary school in Hyde Park, Ohio, followed by Archbishop McNicholas High SchoolinCincinnati.[3] Tabler was a first round draft pick of the New York Yankees (sixteenth overall) in 1976,[4] and entered the organization as an outfielder, but he never reached the majors with the Yankees and on August 19, 1981, he was traded to the Chicago Cubs for players to be named later (the Cubs sent Bill Caudill and Jay Howell to the Yankees in 1982 to complete the transaction).[5]
Tabler finished his career with the Toronto Blue Jays (1991–1992), winning a World Series championship with the club in his final year as a player. Tabler was also known as a clutch hitter and for his ability to hit with the bases loaded, batting just under .500 in such situations (43 for 88) for his career.[9][10]
After his retirement, Tabler joined TSN as a studio analyst for Toronto Blue Jays broadcasts in 1993.[10] After the network's color commentator, former Blue Jays catcher Buck Martinez, was named the team's manager in 2001, Tabler replaced him in the broadcast booth alongside play-by-play announcerDan Shulman.[10] He continued as TSN color analyst when Rod Black replaced Shulman, who left for ESPN. Tabler took over as the main color commentator for TSN's main rival, Rogers Sportsnet in 2005 after the sudden death of their regular commentator, former pitcher John Cerutti, calling the majority of games for both networks from 2005 to 2009 alongside Jamie Campbell and Rod Black.
Tabler worked exclusively for Sportsnet, which is the exclusive Toronto Blue Jays broadcaster. His partners were Martinez, who returned to the Blue Jays broadcast booth as play-by-play announcer in 2010, and Shulman, who returned as a part-time announcer in 2016. On September 25, 2014, Rogers announced a five-year extension with Tabler.[11] On December 2, 2022, Tabler and Sportsnet parted ways.[12] Prior to the 2023 season, he joined the Bally Sports Great Lakes as a color commentator for select Cleveland Guardians games.[13]
