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A-Rod’s first-inning home run off the Tigers’ Justin Verlander back on June 19 came at a time when the slugger and the Yankees were embroiled in a disagreement over his contract signed in 2007 that called for payment of bonuses tied to career milestones that has since been settled.

With the home run, Rodriguez joined Derek Jeter as the only players to record their 3,000th hits while playing for the Yankees and the only players ever to reach the mark at Yankee Stadium — the original ballpark or the new one.

With the hit, he became one of three players in MLB history to collect at 3,000 career hits and hit 600 home runs, joining Hall of Famers Willie Mays and Hank Aaron.