McGwire says he could hit 70 HRs without PEDs

Baseball fans were much less skeptical 20 years ago when St. Louis Cardinals slugger Mark McGwire chased and then broke Roger Maris’ single-season home run record.

McGwire admitted in a 2010 interview with Bob Costas that he used performance enhancing drugs during his career, including that magical season.

But in an interview for the multiplatform network Stadium’s new series “Baseball Stories,” McGwire insisted he could have hit 70 homers in 1998, even without the PEDs.

“Absolutely,” he said in that interview, in excerpts published Monday by The Athletic. “I just know myself. I just know. I was born home run hitter.

I mean, unfortunately, I did (take PEDs). And I’ve regretted that. I’ve talked about that. I regretted it. I didn’t need to. That’s the thing. Didn’t need to.”

McGwire was a prolific home run hitter long before he broke Maris’ record. His 49 home runs by a rookie in 1987 stood for 30 years until Aaron Judge broke it last season.

He led the AL with 52 in 1996 — and hit 58 the following season when he was traded from Oakland to St. Louis.

That he was able to surpass Maris’ 61 homers a year later wasn’t so improbable, but blowing past it and hitting 70 (while Sammy Sosa finished with 66) made the accomplishment even more amazing.

Until the steroid cloud began to engulf the game — and Barry Bonds hit 73 homers in 2001.

“Unfortunately, there wasn’t any testing,” McGwire said.

“There wasn’t anything going on (to help keep the sport clean). The game has done a terrific job of doing what they’re doing now. I commend them for doing it. I think we all wish (testing) went on when we had played. But unfortunately, it didn’t.”

Now a bench coach with the San Diego Padres, McGwire is at peace with his place in history.

He’s said he doesn’t think he deserves to be in the Baseball Hall of Fame, despite career totals that would say otherwise. Molina, Lovullo suspended: St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina and Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo both have been suspended one game for their dustup over the weekend.

Molina, who bumped plate umpire Tim Timmons during the bench-clearing dispute, has appealed and can continue to play until the process is complete.

Lovullo, who also was fined, missed Tuesday night’s game at San Francisco.

The flap began in the second inning Sunday at Busch Stadium. Lovullo argued with Timmons, blaming the umpire for a called third strike he claimed was influenced by the all-star catcher’s pitch framing. Lovullo used a profanity that set off Molina, and the manager was ejected.

Rizzo goes on the DL: The Chicago Cubs are taking the safe route with Anthony Rizzo, placing the first baseman on the 10-day disabled list Tuesday with lower back tightness.

Rizzo hasn’t played since he went 0 for 5 in Thursday’s 8-0 win at Milwaukee.