So Manny reasons to cheer baseball's non-cheaters

There are players who didn't cheat Major League Baseball during its lie-to-our-faces performance-enhancing drug era, and on this Fourth of July weekend we should take a minute to honor those brave ballplayers instead of hailing the return of a fake like Manny Ramirez.

Let's say, for argument's sake, that the performance-enhancing drug era began around 1990, a nice, round number. That was, after all, the season Jose Canseco, Mark McGwire and the rest of the Oakland Athletic Bash Brothers made their third consecutive World Series appearance.

If nothing else, we know Canseco was filling needles on a regular basis because he admitted it, and proudly so, in his page-turning novel, "Juiced: Wild Times, Rampant 'Roids, Smash Hits & How Baseball Got Big."

While some like to argue that the performance-enhancing drug era has run its course because MLB now tests for banned substances, it's tough to buy into that theory when superstars are still coming up dirty, a la Ramirez or even Rafael Palmeiro in 2005.

So, from 1990 until the present day, who were the baseball players that we can be 99 percent sure, almost without a doubt, didn't use the juice or some other type of performance-enhancer?

Honestly, it's nearly an impossible task because everyone is a suspect and physical appearances can be deceiving— F.P. Santangelo admitted to using human growth hormone, and that guy couldn't hit a lick.

Position by position, however, I'll take my chances with the following players and hope they don't eventually let us down by being named in a leaked steroid document somewhere, like so many other fan-favorites have already done:

Catcher: Craig Biggio

There are too many questions surrounding Mike Piazza to put him on this list. Instead, let's go with Biggio, a versatile player who had 3,060 career hits with the Houston Astros.

Biggio started his career as a catcher before moving to the outfield and then second base. He'll be in the Hall of Fame soon.

On the bench: Joe Mauer.

First base: Albert Pujols

Now that Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa, Alex Rodriguez, McGwire and Ramirez have all been tainted in their own ways, Pujols and Ken Griffey Jr. rank as the premier sluggers of the era.

Pujols is baseball's most feared hitter, and he's making a legitimate run at the National League Triple Crown this season.

The St. Louis first baseman has been remarkably consistent since his 2001 rookie campaign, averaging 43 home runs and 129 RBI per season. Because of his gaudy numbers, though, there will always be doubters.

On the bench: Fred McGriff, John Olerud, Jim Thome and Mark Grace.

Second base:

David Eckstein

The 2006 World Series MVP with St. Louis looks like your younger brother and has probably never shaved.

The guy's career-high RBI total is 63 as a member of the 2002 Anaheim Angels, and he's never hit more than eight round-trippers in a season. Others have put up better numbers than Eckstein, but he's the prototypical overachiever, and every team needs a guy like that.

On the bench: Chase Utley and Ryne Sandberg.

Shortstop: Ozzie Smith

Never do you hear, "Boy, that guy is playing some incredible defense these days. He must be on the juice."

The Wizard of Oz may have been the finest glove man of all-time, but his offense was suspect. Seven times during his 19-year career he failed to hit even a single home run in a season, and that isn't easy for a guy who was getting about 600 plate appearances per year. Still, his game was pure beauty.

On the bench: Cal Ripken Jr., Derek Jeter and Omar Vizquel.

Third base: Larry Wayne

"Chipper" Jones

It's a tough call between Jones and Wade Boggs, the poster child for Medical Hair Restoration. I'll stick with Jones because guys who go by the nickname "Chipper" typically don't mix well with burly, intense steroid dealers.

On the bench: Wade Boggs.

Left field:

Rickey Henderson

Rickey is all-time great— he'll tell you so. Rickey loves Rickey.

Although the Hall of Fame outfielder may be guilty of referring to himself in the third person on too many occasions, it's impossible to believe Henderson's career is tainted.

The man played 25 major league seasons, from 1979 to 2003, but never made an All-Star team after the 1991 campaign. During his final four years in the league, while players were blowing up to cartoonlike status, Henderson's body remained the same and his batting average never finished above .233.

On the bench: Bo Jackson.

Center field: Willie McGee

Have you ever seen Willie McGee play? Is there any doubt that his 6-foot-1, 175-pound thin-as-a-rail frame was all natural?

This speedster was a National League MVP with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1985, a four-time All-Star and two-time batting champ. Oh, and he hit a grand total of 30 home runs in the 1990s.

If McGee, who retired after the '99 season, was dirty, then everything we know about performance-enhancers must be a lie.

On the bench: Ken Griffey Jr. (only because McGee was less obvious).

Right field: Tony Gwynn

No way. No how.

Gwynn was a lifetime .338 hitter in 20 MLB seasons. In his worst statistical year for average, during his rookie campaign in 1982, Gwynn still batted .289.

Even as his body broke down late in his career—not a sign of steroid use but rather age, balky knees and weight issues—Gwynn could handle the stick as well as anyone. Despite his incredible, consistent numbers, there never was a dramatic drop-off for No. 19.

On the bench: Ichiro Suzuki, Andre Dawson and Dave Winfield.

Starting pitcher:

Fernando Valenzuela

I'll take my chances with "El Toro."

Aside from Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte and, to a lesser extent, Eric Gagne, star pitchers have gotten off pretty easy when it comes to the steroid debate.

Valenzuela, who tossed an astounding 20 complete games in 1986, certainly got bigger throughout his career, but not in the same way Bonds' cranium expanded. El Toro's physical development was centered near the gut, rather than the arms, chest and head areas.

From 1995 to the end of his career in '97, Valenzuela posted earned-run averages of 4.98, 3.62 and 4.96. The only juice he was on was Albert's Famous Mexican Hot Sauces.

Other starters: Greg Maddux, John Smoltz, Tom Glavine, Tim Wakefield, Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling.

Reliever:

Rich "El Guapo" Garces

You don't need to be some pale-faced diehard from Red Sox Nation to love El Guapo.

Generously listed at 6 feet and 250 pounds, the massive righthander played 10 seasons in the majors and locked down a grand total of seven saves.

His 1.55 ERA in 1999 with Boston raises some eyebrows considering he sported a 3.74 ERA for his career, but, seriously, who are we trying to kid?

This is El Guapo, a legend, an everyman—like Babe Ruth or George Costanza. If El Guapo did steroids, it's time we all switch to soccer.

In the bullpen: Mariano Rivera, Trevor Hoffman and Lee Smith.

Stephen Dorman is the Acorn's sports editor.