Diary of a Great Yankee Fan

In 1967, no one more followed baseball more passionately than young Hillary Rodham -- who, as everyone knows -- is a life-long Yankee fan.

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Until recently, no one realized how intensely she raged in letters to friends about the 1967 ballclub, which struggled under Manager Ralph Houk. Some excerpts:

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On the infield of Joe Pepitone, Horace Clarke, Ruben Amaro and Charlie Smith: "I’ve gone through three and a half metamorphoses and am beginning to feel as though there is a smorgasbord of personalities spread before me."

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After one tough loss to Boston: "Sunday was lethargic from the beginning as I wallowed in a morass of general and specific dislike and pity."

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On the signing of former Red Sox ace Bill Monbouquette: “Don’t begrudge me my mercenary interest."

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On her attraction to slugger Joe Pepitione: "Can you be a misanthrope and still love or enjoy some individuals?”

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At the end of the season, with the team next to last: "I’m sitting here at a stolen table in a pair of dirty denim bell-bottoms, a never-ironed work shirt and a beautiful purple felt hat with a purple polka-dotted scarf streaming off it. I’m really tired of people slamming doors and screaming obscenities at poor old life."