CLEARWATER, Fla. — Yogi Berra pleaded with paramedics to spare him a trip to the hospital after the Yankees legend tumbled onto his backside inside the clubhouse Thursday morning.

“He caught his sneaker on the carpet and fell,’’ GM Brian Cashman said of the 85-year-old Hall of Fame catcher who is in spring training as a guest instructor.

The paramedics ignored Berra’s request to avoid a trip to the hospital and he was taken by ambulance to Morton Plant Hospital at noon, underwent tests, and was released at 4 p.m.

“Feeling fine,” Berra said in comments relayed by the team to The Associated Press. “Resting comfortably. Hoping to be released later today.”

Berra was getting a bowl of soup in the clubhouse when he took the tumble. Paramedics treated him on the floor and got him into a chair where they took his blood pressure, an exercise Joe Girardi said Berra wasn’t thrilled with.

“You are always concerned when someone falls,’’ Girardi said. “You hear a lot about hips and how tough they are.’’

Nick Swisher and Jorge Posada were in the indoor hitting cage when they heard the news.

“I talked to him and he said he felt good. He was smiling and laughing,’’ Swisher said. “Any time something like that happens you don’t mess around. That’s a living legend.’’

Posada, who has spent years picking Berra’s brain bout catching, was frightened.

“It was scary when I heard,’’ Posada said. “He looked OK before going to the hospital.’’

Berra also took a spill at his New Jersey home in July and was admitted to Mountainside Hospital. Shortly after being released, Berra went back to Mountainside when his nose didn’t stop bleeding. He missed the Hall of Fame induction ceremonies later that month.