“Clueless Joe” … hardly

With some in the caustic New York media poking fun at him, Joe Torre becomes the Yankees’ manager 29 years ago today, replacing Buck Showalter.

Torre brings to New York a lackluster career managerial record of just 894-1,003 in 14 seasons leading the crosstown Mets, Atlanta Braves and St. Louis Cardinals.

Despite the headlines that greet his arrival, Torre has a clue of what he is getting into with the Yankees.

He builds on the solid foundation Showalter leaves behind and wins four of the next five World Series titles.

Those titles, plus two more American League pennants in 2000 and 2003, eventually lift Torre into the Hall of Fame.

Torre hardly is phased by the initial, negative reaction to his hiring.

“Don’t let anybody,” Torre once says, “walk through your mind with their dirty feet.”