Patrick Sean Tabler (born February 2, 1958) is an American former Major League Baseball player and currently a color analyst for the Toronto Blue Jays on the Canadian sports television network Rogers Sportsnet and formerly with TSN. In 1983, Tabler was traded to the Cleveland Indians in exchange for Jerry Dybzinski….and became their starting first baseman. That year he hit .291 in 124 games….as he became quickly known as a line drive hitter….and continued to have modest success at the plate. His best season was in 1987….when he became an all-star….while hitting .307 with 11 home runs and 86 runs batted in. Along with playing first base….he was well suited for the designated hitter role he inherited from Andre Thornton in 1987….as he gained attention for his amazing success in bases-loaded situations….after going 43 for 88 (.489) with 108 RBI….and was even recognized and nicknamed “Mr. Clutch” on his 1986 Donruss baseball card (#129) as well. He played in Cleveland until 1988….when he was traded to the Kansas City Royals for pitcher Bud Black.
Kirby Puckett (March 14, 1960 – March 6, 2006) was an American professional baseball player….who played his entire 12-year Major League Baseball (MLB) career as a center fielder for the Minnesota Twins from 1984 to 1995). Puckett is still the Twins’ all-time leader in career hits, runs, and total bases. At the time of his retirement….his .318 career batting average was the highest by any right-handed American League batter since Joe DiMaggio….as Puckett was the fourth baseball player during the 20th century to record 1,000 hits in his first five full calendar years in Major League Baseball….and was the second to record 2,000 hits during his first ten full calendar years. After being forced to retire in 1996 at age 36 due to loss of vision in one eye from a central retinal vein occlusion….Puckett was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in his 1st year of eligibility in 2001.
