Decision on Pete Rose’s ban from baseball is promised within three months

Pete Rose met with Commissioner Rob Manfred on Thursday, and baseball’s all-time hit leader should find out within three months whether his lifetime ban from the sport will be lifted.

In a statement, Major League Baseball said Manfred met with Rose “and his representatives” at the league office in New York. According to the statement, Manfred promised Rose a decision on his application for reinstatement “by the end of the calendar year.”

Manfred is in his first year as commissioner. His predecessor, Bud Selig, steadfastly refused for years to render a decision on Rose’s wish for reinstatement.

In July, Manfred declined to reinstate Shoeless Joe Jackson, in part because of a lack of new evidence or live witnesses surrounding events almost a century old. In his meeting with Manfred, Rose had the opportunity to present any new evidence and make his case directly to the commissioner.

Rose was banished in 1989 for gambling on baseball, in accordance with Rule 21(d), which states that any “player, umpire, or club or league official or employee” betting on a game in which he is involved “shall be declared permanently ineligible.”

Rose, 74, said earlier this year that he would be open to a limited reinstatement -- for instance, one that would let him make appearances on behalf of his hometown Cincinnati Reds, but would not let him participate in the day-to-day operations of any club.

“When you’re in my situation, you’re open to almost anything,” Rose said.

Manfred has no authority to keep Rose out of the Hall of Fame. However, in 1991 -- two years after Rose was banished -- the Hall of Fame declared that any person on the “permanently ineligible” list could not be inducted.

The league offices traditionally close between Christmas and New Year’s Day. So, by promising Rose a decision by the end of the calendar year, Manfred essentially gave himself three months to issue his ruling.

Twitter: @BillShaikin