Cabell was born in
Fort Riley, Kansas, to Enos Cabell Sr. and Naomi Cabell. He graduated from
Gardena High School in
Gardena, California. He played
college baseball at
Los Angeles Harbor College. Cabell was signed by the Baltimore Orioles as an amateur
free agent in 1968. He played in Venezuelan winter league for Tigres de Aragua in season 1971-1972. He was traded along with
Rob Andrews from the Orioles to the Astros for
Lee May and
Jay Schlueter at the
Winter Meetings on December 3, 1974. The
Baseball Writers' Association of America named Cabell the Houston Astros' Most Valuable Player in 1978. On December 8, 1980, Cabell was then traded to San Francisco for pitcher
Bob Knepper and outfielder
Chris Bourjos. On February 28, 1986, Cabell and six others were suspended for the entire season for admitting during the
Pittsburgh drug trials that they were involved in
cocaine abuse. The suspensions for all seven were avoided after agreeing to large anti-drug donations and
community service. He played MLB for 15 seasons, despite the distinction of being singled out by
Bill James in his 1983 Baseball Abstract as a player who "can't play baseball." Currently, he serves as a special assistant to Astros general manager
James Click. ==Career statistics==