 Tabb was a baseball standout at the University of Tulsa, where, as a freshman, he won the College World Series Most Outstanding Player award in the 1971 College World Series, where Tulsa was the next-to-last team eliminated.He was also the first baseman for Team USA at the 1971 Pan American Games.The Cubs made Tabb a first-round pick, selected 16th overall, in the 1973 Major League Baseball Draft.