The writer, Tom Verducci, never got to interview this intensely private, but genuinely generous and humble man, who still takes intense pleasure in occasionally coaching various pitchers today.

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Longtime Sports Illustrated baseball writer Tom Verducci said it wouldn't matter if a player was a Hall of Fame caliber player before baseball had its steroid use problems.

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Instead of allowing his undying allegiance to Red Sox Nation cloud his judgment, Burns relied on the commentaries provided by Tom Verducci and Howard Bryant to support his claim.

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