How has Ken Griffey Jr. stayed scandal free of steroid use after all this time? Why have all of the other sluggers in the 90's been accused and found guilty of cheating the fans? Ken Griffey Jr. is on a long journey towards a first ballot Hall of Fame pass. As time passes, his legacy grows bigger and bigger as each new star is brought down with steroid allegations or confirmations.

Ken Griffey Jr. has played the game correctly ever since he entered into the league. From the wide inviting smile he presents, to the unforced charm he shows everyone he comes into contact with, Griffey has never shied away from any sort of bad press or negative criticism. Even in the darkest days in Cincinnati, you would still see that sparkling smile from across the room.

Ken Griffey Sr. is largerly responsible for what Jr. Griffey has accomplished. Sr. taught him the ins and outs, taught him that sweet swing, and led by example through his own playing career how you can either get to the top or enjoy trying. Jr. Griffey understood that even if you are not considered the best at the time, you can still be remembered for playing the game correctly.

When Ken Griffey Jr. first came into the league, he was seen as a possible savior for a franchise in dire need of respectability. Up until he arrived, the Seattle Mariners were seen as some team, residing in parts unknown, that needed a mega star in order to be noticed. From the minute he arrived, the fans in Seattle showed him nothing but respect and nurturing that a potential star at the age of 19 needs in order to be successful.

Seattle fans are some of the most compassionate fans in any sport. We are loyal to our players that show respect back and will forgive errors of misfortune if a star stumbles. Junior came into the Seattle organization and was immediately labeled as the guy. He did not need to constantly impress us with home runs and great catches, even though he did. We would have excepted him even if he struggled through several seasons before he finally succeeded.

Jay Buhner, Dan Wilson, and Edgar Martinez are classic examples of Mariners that received that type of treatment just because they played the game correctly. They left everything on the field and gave the fans what they wanted, excitement. For every awesome play they made, they would make an equally difficult play to stomach that would let us know they were human after all.

Now that we have entered into the age of steroid revelations about everyone from Payrod to Clemens, Ken Griffey is alone at the top with no allegations ever surfacing. All of his 600 plus home runs and counting become even more fascinating knowing that he hit all of them with his natural ability and hard work. No enhanced muscle strength was needed with the sweetest swing to ever hit a home run out of the Kingdome.

While Payrod was also brought up in the Mariners organization, he was consumed by that fateful trait that has beset all of the steroid users: greed.  He had the equivalent, if not better talent than Griffey but that was not good enough.  Payrod felt the need to take his game to the next level by unneeded means that has now tarnished his career.  No one will ever look at Payrod in the same light as Junior Griffey.

 As a long time Mariners fan, I am proud to have him struggling through his potentially last season back where he belongs. Seattle fans never really recovered from when he initially left for Cincinnati. Now that he has returned, it brings a smile to my face every time I read or see the fans in Seattle giving him a standing ovation. Everywhere he goes once he announces his retirement, should show him the same sort of respect and admiration he deserves for being one of the last stars of the 90's to still be labeled a clean player.