Denny Neagle puts on Yankee pinstripes for first time. (AP photos) | ZOOM |

        NEW YORK — Denny Neagle got a crash course in Yankees history the moment he walked into the clubhouse.

        Neatly folded in his locker Friday was a gray T-shirt, featuring the New York logo and three words — Pride, Tradition and Courage.

        Neagle held up the shirt and studied it for several seconds.

        “What kid growing up wouldn't dream about playing in the pinstripes?” he said later.

        Traded by the Reds Wednesday, Neagle was delayed by bad weather in getting to Yankee Stadium. His original flight earlier in the day from Denver, where the Reds were playing Colorado, was canceled.

Neagle confers with pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre. | ZOOM |

        But Neagle, one of baseball's more colorful characters, was not daunted. He arrived about 2¹/₂ hours before a game against the Florida Marlins, called his mom on a cellphone, greeted a few teammates and got a pat on the back from manager Joe Torre.

        Known for making kooky noises, he even unleashed a favorite sound effect in an interview room — a deafening, dead-on imitation of a train whistle.

        “That was very impressive,” general manager Brian Cashman said.

        Within minutes, a tape of Neagle's performance began circulating in the Yankees clubhouse, drawing laughs and smiles. And several of the players — many did not know him by sight when he walked in — agreed that Neagle might be a nice fit.

        The two-time World Series champions project a business-like manner on and off the field. Neagle's personality could be a pleasant addition.

        “I'll have to learn who I can kid and who I should leave alone,” Neagle said.

        Neagle already found a familiar problem for many new Yankees arrivals — picking a number that wasn't already taken or retired.

        “I wore 15 with Cincinnati, but that was Thurman Munson's number. So I got on the computer with my wife and some friends and started looking for another one,” the pitcher said. “I kind of like low numbers, so I tried 16 and saw that was Whitey Ford's.”

        Neagle, for now, will wear No. 41. That belonged to pitcher Ed Yarnall, one of four prospects the Yankees traded to the Reds.

        Neagle admitted he might try to change it before he makes his Yankees' debut Monday night at home against Philadelphia.

        “Hopefully, you'll see me pitch the most important number — seven or eight innings,” the former 20-game winner said.

        Neagle also hopes he'll have no trouble feeling comfortable on the mound, in the clubhouse and in the city.

        “When I was traded from Pittsburgh to Atlanta in 1996, I pressed a little bit,” he said. “I got to the Braves and it was the Fab Five rotation and Cy Youngs across the board. At first, I was kind of like, "There's Greg Maddux, there's Tom Glavine.”'

        Neagle settled in neatly there, and pitched for the Braves in the World Series loss to the Yankees that year. Now, he's on the other side.

        “I'm looking forward to it. The crazy fans, all the culture. My wife can't wait to go out there shopping and seeing some Broadway shows,” he said.

        Said Torre: “The thing I'm excited about is that he's excited.”

        Neagle watched Friday night as New York beat the Marlins 6-2.

        “It was kind of weird, sitting in this stadium and knowing I was playing for the Yankees now,” he said. “But just going out to the bullpen to throw before the game, it was great hearing the fans cheer for you. It definitely beats having them yell at you when you're on the other side.”

        The 31-year-old lefty was 8-2 with a 3.52 ERA for the Reds this season. He's 98-62 for Atlanta, Pittsburgh, Minnesota and the Reds, and his best season was 1997 when he went 20-5 with a 2.97 ERA for the Braves.

        “He's been a good, dependable pitcher in a lot of places. He should help us,” said second baseman Chuck Knoblauch, who broke into the majors with Neagle for the Twins in 1991.

        Neagle is eligible for free agency at the end of the season and “I'd be foolish not to listen to any offers from the Yankees,” he said.

        Moments later, sitting next to Cashman, Neagle sounded his train whistle.

        “Does that cost extra?” the startled GM asked, smiling.

        “The first one's free,” Neagle said.

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