Pete Rose has more records than an oldies radio station.

He is baseball's all-time leader in at bats (14,053), singles (3,315), 5-hit games (10), seasons with 200 hits (10) seasons with 600 at bats (17) and games played (3,562).

"I've heard more national anthems than anybody in history," he said.

An amazing career: 24 years as a player with the Cincinnati Red, Philadelphia Phillies and Montreal Expos, five years as manager of the Cincinnati Reds, three World Series rings, three batting titles, two Gold Gloves, one Most Valuable Player and Rookie of the Year,

Nobody got as many hits as Rose - 4,256.

He's the "Hit King," all right, beloved by baseball fans, a pain to baseball commissioners.

Despite all his accomplishments on the field, and controversial lifetime ban for gambling on the game, Pete Rose's enduring legacy may just be beginning.

Last week, the baseball legend announced that he'll be opening his first "Hit King Baseball Academy" in Houston later this year.

The great Pete Rose will teach Houston-area kids how to play baseball, hands-on, his way.

"If you want to know the truth, everybody who plays the game should play like I did," he said. "I played the right way. That's how my dad taught me to play. You've got to play hard. You owe it to yourself, your family and teammates. You owe it to everybody.

"You have to keep grinding, that's what I'm going to teach kids. Many guys had more ability than me. But I have all the records. I have the record for two hits in a game, three hits in a game, four hits in a game, five hits in a game. You give everything you've got, and then you come back the next day and do it again."

The Hit King Baseball Academy will open in November or December. The complex will have four lighted, all-weather turf fields - two with big league dimensions, one medium-size for college and high school players and one for youth teams. The big league fields will have portable fences so younger teams can use them. It will include a 10,000-square foot building for training, pitching and batting practice, concessions and a pro shop. The facility will host instructional camps, summer and fall teams, leagues, tournaments and showcases for prospective college and pro players.

"It's going to be a first-class operation, otherwise I wouldn't be a part of it," Rose said. "We're going to do this first in Houston, and later in Cincinnati, and then Las Vegas and across the country."

Rose's local partners in the venture are businessman Johnny Johnson, former professional pitcher Ryan Baker and marketing executive Derek Hurley, former pro pitcher who owns the successful Bull Pen youth baseball facility in Cypress (thebullpentx.com).

Rose was introduced at a private party for investors at the No Label Brewery in Katy. How did I get in? Hurley coaches my kid's summer team. It's who you know.

The No Label Brewery unveiled "Hit King Beer," which will be sold at the Hit King Academy. Fun fact: Rose doesn't drink alcohol, never had a beer. "But I'm gonna sell this at my restaurant in Las Vegas," he said.

Before the party, I hung out with Rose in a back room at the brewery, where he signed baseballs, photographs, jerseys and T-shirts that would be handed out later to guests. He didn't scribble his name in a Sharpie whirlwind. He signed each photo carefully and slowly, with a big loop to begin "Pete" and a flourish at the end of "Rose."

Nobody will hold one of those baseballs five years from now and wonder, "whose autograph is this?" I have about 10 balls like that.

Rose, 74, wore a white Cincinnati Reds hat. While he is ineligible for baseball's Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, he will be inducted into the Reds Hall of Fame in June and his No. 14 will be retired forever.

Unless … "I made them put one exception in the deal," he said. "If my grandson ever plays for the Reds, he can wear my number. He's 11, and he's really good."

I asked Rose, "Was there a pitcher you couldn't hit, and who were the pitchers you pounded like it was batting practice?"

He said, "I could never hit Sandy Koufax. But I could hit Juan Marichal and Warren Spahn all day. They're all in the Hall of Fame."

He spouted his at bats, hits and batting averages against them. And to make sure, he took out his phone and showed me a list of hundreds of pitchers, his at bats, hits and batting average against them. He's got a baseball encyclopedia in his brain, and a backup in his iPhone.

He talked about playing in Colts Stadium in Houston in 1963-64, before the Astrodome was built.

"They had mosquitoes so big in Colts Stadium, they had flight attendants on them."

His opinion on the 2016 Astros: "You've got a real good team here. You got that shortstop (Carlos Correa) and Jose Altuve and George Springer and a few other guys. Two things the Astros need to do - cut down on strikeouts and learn how to win on the road. You give me eight Altuves and I'll win a pennant. Baseball is a tough game. It's hard to get 200 hits a season. Only three players have done it the last two seasons - and Altuve is two of them."

I'm standing there with Pete Rose, talking baseball, asking him every question I can think of, and he's telling me stories about Willie Mays, Roberto Clemente and Cincinnati's Big Red Machine. My job ain't too bad.

Rose said he can't wait to roam the Hit King complex and start teaching kids how to hit, and talking baseball with parents.

"I love teaching baseball," he said. "I've never had the opportunity like this. I'll be showing the instructors how I want them to teach, plus I'll be making regular visits here to help out. I will be involved. I'm not just putting my name on this.

"Fathers are always bringing their kids to see me. The father wants me to give the kid some advice. But I can't do that unless I see the kid play. Now I'll be able to do that. I want to help kids who are looking to get better. This is something I've always hoped to do. It's going to be fun."

Rose may have a different definition of "fun" than you do. Nobody ever played the game harder than Rose, and that will be the lesson one.

"I have three bits of advice for young players: Be aggressive, then be more aggressive, and then never be satisfied. I'm into enthusiasm and the size of a guy's heart and his work ethic. I don't care what a computer says about a player. Computers don't win games.

"We're going to teach kids how to win games. The only reason you play any sport is to win. You don't play to have fun. The only way to have fun is to win. Losing a game sucks. I'm telling you, winning is fun."

And that may be the record he cherishes most. Nobody ever won more baseball games (1,972) than Pete Rose.