Yankees Kevin Brown and John Flaherty, who played with Ken Caminiti in San Diego, spoke glowingly yesterday of the former NL MVP who died in The Bronx Sunday at 41 of an apparent heart attack.

“I remember the guy who went all out on the field. He had a torn shoulder and won the MVP in 1996,” Flaherty said of Caminiti, who admitted to steroid use and battled drug and alcohol problems. “He was a leader who didn’t say a whole lot but he would give you a look that told you he wasn’t happy. There isn’t a player who played with Camy who wouldn’t say good things about him.”

The aloof Brown spoke in a somber tone and almost cried.

“He played his heart out and made great plays behind you,” Brown said. “It’s a tragic loss for everybody who knew him. It was a situation you hoped he would find a way to beat this thing and get his life back together. You have to wonder if all the pain and injuries he had led him to the circumstances he had to deal with.”