Hamilton on ESPN2 tonight

ESPN shot more than 15 hours of video last fall in preparation for tonight's one-hour "Homecoming" show about Texas Rangers All-Star Josh Hamilton.

Boiling down his life into a 60-minute television show was no easy task.

"They shot a good 12 hours of material before the show at Athens Drive," said Katie Hamilton, Josh's wife. "I'm really excited to see what makes it onto television and what doesn't."

The show will air today at 8 p.m. on ESPN2.

The Athens Drive gymnasium was filled with friends and family for a live three-hour taping for the show on Oct. 30, but cameras had already been rolling for most of the day.

Anne Powell, the show's producer, said it was a challenge to cut the footage back to 60 minutes because the storytelling was so intense.

"Josh's story is an amazing one," she said.

The Athens Drive taping of "Homecoming" was part revival, part "This Is Your Life," and part celebration.

Hamilton discussed his reliance on faith to overcome his addictions to alcohol and cocaine.

Speaking about his baseball comeback, Hamilton told "Homecoming" host Rick Reilly, "It is a God thing," then said that everything he has been able to do during the past two years has been a miracle.

He led the American League in RBIs this season with 130, batted .304 and hit 32 home runs.

There were key people from Josh's life there, including his wife, their three girls and Josh's mother and father, as well as former Cincinnati Reds manager Jerry Narron and famed Major League Home Run Derby pitcher Clay Council.

The tears came early for many in the audience and flowed freely when Ashley Pittman, the former Athens Drive team manager and bat boy, came forward.

"Josh is my best friend," said Pittman, who has Down syndrome.