On this night, The Boss was pleased.

“I couldn’t be prouder of any man than The Rocket,” George Steinbrenner said last night after the ageless pitcher he brought to The Bronx 4½ years ago won his 300th game and recorded his 4,000th strikeout.

“That is a genuinely great record. The 500 home runs is a good record. Very outstanding. But 300 victories and 4,000 strikeouts on the same night, it’s just like a dream.”

Steinbrenner was just as giddy about the sellout crowd.

“Can you believe 50,000 people coming out in this rain? Sitting out there like these people?” Steinbrenner asked. “It’s unbelievable. Only in New York.”

Steinbrenner, of course, wasn’t in as merry a mood Wednesday night when the Yankees were no-hit by Houston. He was scheduled to leave New York and return to Tampa the next day at 1 p.m. Instead, he stuck around and met with Joe Torre that morning.

Since then, the Yankees have responded with two straight victories. Does Steinbrenner think his meeting helped?

“Hope so,” he shouted, walking to his car. “We’ll soon know.”