AP

LOS ANGELES — After passing Sparky Anderson on the all-time wins list, Joe Torre made sure to thank the man who gave him a fourth oppotunity to manage in the majors.

“If you told me a dozen years ago that I’d be in this rarefied air, I’d tell you you’re full of baloney — because I certainly started way under .500 when I took over the Yankees in 1996,” Torre said. “But I have to thank George Steinbrenner for putting me in a position to do this.”

Torre earned his 2,195th regular-season win Thursday night, taking over sole possession of fifth on the career list with the Dodgers’ 3-2 victory over the Athletics.

“I’ve admired what Sparky did for all those years, and I’m proud to be in that company,” Torre said.

Torre won 286 games in four-plus seasons (1977-81) with the Mets, and won 1,173 games with the Yankees from 1996-2007.

He left the Yankees following the 2007 season upset he was offered only a one-year contract to return. He took over the Dodgers in 2008.

He also managed the Cardinals and Braves.