Pete Rose is MLB's career hits leader

Baseball great Pete Rose is ready to admit for the first time he bet on the sport, a New York newspaper reported on Wednesday.

In 1989, Rose, then manager of Cincinnati, accepted a lifetime ban from baseball following an investigation into his gambling.

Newsday reported that in exchange for Rose becoming eligible for the Hall of Fame, the former Reds slugger would be prepared admit his gambling on baseball.

Last month, baseball commissioner Bud Selig said he was considering reinstating Rose.

Selig is said to be seeking an apology, an admission and a probation period for Major League Baseball's all-time career hits leader.

Rose has denied that he bet on baseball despite evidence which includes betting slips from his time with Cincinnati in the 1980s.

In a poll conducted by the ESPN website, 74% of respondents said he should be eligible for the Hall of Fame if he admits to betting on baseball.