Top 10 CLEAN MLB players of Past 20 years

[Voice of Reason]

I heard Frank Thomas on the radio today and it got me to thinking - who are the top 10 CLEAN players in baseball of the past 25 years?

 

Thomas had some interesting comments. He said he did not resent the PED users because they did what they felt they had to do for themselves and their families. He does resent the PED users who try to claim they were clean. That really irritates him.

 

Here are my top 10 CLEAN players of the past 20 years (10 years or more played in past 20 years):

 

1. Ken Griffey Jr.

2. Greg Maddux

3. Frank Thomas

4. Randy Johnson

5. Albert Pujols

6. Derek Jeter

7. Barry Larkin

8. Pedro Martinez

9. Mariano Rivera

10. John Smoltz

 

Others to consider:

Tom Glavine

Craig Biggio

Chipper Jones

Miguel Cabrera

 

There is a lot of room for debate on this one and I am sure there are players I did not think of that need to be included. With that in mind, pay close attention to the guidelines (past 20 years, 10+ years played, focus on performance in the past 20 years). Fire away ... who is your top 10?

[Wireman]

There's no proof that all of those guys were clean.

[DragonFire]

Honestly, how many guys are above suspicion? How can we really say?

[nkufan23]

Tony Gwynn, Cal Ripken Jr., Kirby Puckett, Wade Boggs, Ichiro, Barry Larkin, Nomar Garciaparra, Omar Vizquel, Rickey Henderson, Ryan Howard, Fred McGriff, Edgar Martinez, Roberto Alomar, Wade Boggs, Paul Konerko, Todd Helton, Carlos Delgado.

 

Just throwing names out there, honestly no idea if some of them have been liked to using or not. None of them jumped out at me as steroid guys but I don't know that for fact.

[Voice of Reason]

Tony Gwynn, Cal Ripken Jr., Kirby Puckett, Wade Boggs, Ichiro, Barry Larkin, Nomar Garciaparra, Omar Vizquel, Rickey Henderson, Ryan Howard, Fred McGriff, Edgar Martinez, Roberto Alomar, Wade Boggs, Paul Konerko, Todd Helton, Carlos Delgado.

 

Just throwing names out there, honestly no idea if some of them have been liked to using or not. None of them jumped out at me as steroid guys but I don't know that for fact.

 

I believe almost every one of those guys don't meet my qualifications. How many of them played 10+ seasons in the last 20 years? Ryan Howard and Todd Helton probably did. The rest I would guess no.

 

As to users versus non-users, I am eliminating anyone named in reports, suspended, etc. Maybe some of my top 10 used, but no one has claimed that they did and I believe almost all of them, people would say they did not use PED's.

[Jumper_Dad]

There's no proof that all of those guys were clean.

 

It's hard to prove a negative, in this case that they never took PEDs. I don't think any of them have been under any real suspicion or every had their names show up linked to PEDs outside of butthurt fans of other teams speculating about it.

[nkufan23]

I believe almost every one of those guys don't meet my qualifications. How many of them played 10+ seasons in the last 20 years? Ryan Howard and Todd Helton probably did. The rest I would guess no.

 

As to users versus non-users, I am eliminating anyone named in reports, suspended, etc. Maybe some of my top 10 used, but no one has claimed that they did and I believe almost all of them, people would say they did not use PED's.

 

Off the top of my head I'd say that Larkin would maybe qualify. Ichiro definitely qualifies as does Konerko. Cal Ripken Jr, Omar Vizquel, Nomar, Robero Alomar, Tony Gwynn and Carlos Delgado I'm almost positve would qualify as well. Again no research just a hunch, time gets away from me quick so I could be wrong.

 

Edit.

After some research Gywnn, Ripken, Larkin and Alomar don't qualify but not by more than a couple seasons and McGriff just misses the cut as well. None of them are old timers by any means. I could've named Babe Ruth I don't think he used but he did guzzle beer and probably ate his fair share of mets, brats, cheesesteaks and anything else that was unhealthy.

Edited July 10, 2015 by nkufan23

[thepeopleschamp]

Baseball was so much more fun when guys were smashing home runs in the 80's and 90's. Never forget what the aces of the Atlanta Braves taught me "Chicks dig the long ball."

[Voice of Reason]

Off the top of my head I'd say that Larkin would maybe qualify. Ichiro definitely qualifies as does Konerko. Cal Ripken Jr, Omar Vizquel, Nomar, Robero Alomar, Tony Gwynn and Carlos Delgado I'm almost positve would qualify as well. Again no research just a hunch, time gets away from me quick so I could be wrong.

 

Edit.

After some research Gywnn, Ripken, Larkin and Alomar don't qualify but not by more than a couple seasons and McGriff just misses the cut as well. None of them are old timers by any means. I could've named Babe Ruth I don't think he used but he did guzzle beer and probably ate his fair share of mets, brats, cheesesteaks and anything else that was unhealthy.

 

You are right, Larkin only played nine seasons in the last 20. take him off my top 10 and move Miguel Cabrera into his place

[InItToWinIt]

My favorite part about Griffey Jr. Never once heard his name and steroids in the same sentence.

[PP1]

You are right, Larkin only played nine seasons in the last 20. take him off my top 10 and move Miguel Cabrera into his place

 

Larking played from 95 to 04. That is 10 years. Barry Bonds never tested positive for steroids but was in the report. He may be the most dominating player ever.

[formerkywrestler]

There's no proof that all of those guys were clean.

I think the guy who is #1 on that list juiced.

[formerkywrestler]

1. Derek Jeter

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[UKMustangFan]

I don't think Derek Jeter was clean.

[formerkywrestler]

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