This story was excerpted from Ian Browne’s Red Sox Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

There is a buzz in the air every time a former great like Pedro Martinez or David Ortiz walks into Spring Training. There was that same feeling this week when Dustin Pedroia made his first trip to camp since he was an active player, serving as a guest instructor for three days.

But with little fanfare, Hall of Famer Jim Rice has been a constant at camp over the past two decades. Manager Alex Cora increased Rice’s visibility by asking him to speak to the team late last week.

As someone who spent his entire playing career with the Red Sox and has been with the organization since he was drafted out of high school with the 15th overall pick in 1971, who better than Rice to explain to the current team what it means to play in Boston?

“Jim, he was very honest about where we play and the environment of Boston,” said Cora. “There’s a perception out there that playing in Boston is tough, and it’s the other way around. It’s a joy. It all depends how you take it. I’ve been saying that all along. If you’re accountable, genuine and transparent, you’re going to be fine in this city.”

Few players in Red Sox history have represented that better than the man who wore No. 14.

“He did it throughout his career,” said Cora.

Never did Rice represent the Red Sox better than his Most Valuable Player Award-winning season of 1978, when he hit .315 with 15 triples, 46 homers, 139 RBIs and 406 -- yes, 406 -- total bases.

“The guy is a stud," said Cora. "Having those guys here, Pedroia, Jim, [Dwight Evans], Luis Tiant and everybody who is going to come down the next few weeks, it’s going to make us better.”