NEW YORK -- Pete Rose is writing another autobiography.

Baseball's career hits leader, who hopes commissioner Bud Selig will end his lifetime ban, has agreed to a deal with Rodale Inc., the company said Monday.

The book will be written with Rick Hill, and is scheduled for publication in March 2004.

Rose's first autobiography, "Pete Rose: My Story,'' was issued by Macmillan Publishing Co. in 1989, 2½ months after Rose agreed to the lifetime ban following an investigation of his gambling.

That book, written with Roger Kahn, contained no major revelations, instead restating Rose's position that baseball's investigation was tainted and he never bet on baseball games.

Scott Waxman, who represented Rose and Hill along with literary agent Joel Gotler & Associates, would not say if Rose would address gambling in the book.

Hill is a writer and director in the Los Angeles area, including the movie "The Longshot,'' which was based on the life of baseball player Jim Eisenreich.

Rose met last fall with Selig, who is considering the application for reinstatement Rose submitted in 1997.