What is more American than roots music and baseball? To celebrate both, the Innings Festival (February 20-22, 2026) and Extra Innings Festival (February 27 & 28, 2026), were held at Tempe Beach Park in Tempe, Arizona during baseball’s spring training.
While baseball originated in the 1840s, the first officially reported organized game was played on June 19, 1846, in Hoboken, New Jersey. However, later that century the established professional leagues imposed a racial barrier. But, as baseball was popular everywhere Black players established their own leagues. As we all know, that racial barrier was broken in 1947. Major League Baseball today is a multi-cultural sport that features players from around the world.
It is generally accepted that roots music is even older, beginning, at least, as early as the 18th century, notably in the American south, a blend of Scots-Irish, African, and Native American musical heritages. Then, when the recording of roots music began in the early 20th century, another barrier arose, a marketing one. To separate the races, record companies distinguished between Hillbilly and Race Records. Moreover, it was not until the 1960s that permitted integrated audiences for live performances in all areas of the country.
Like baseball, roots music today blends music cultures from all over the world. And, again like baseball, has taken itself to new heights and popularity.
ND's Arizona correspondent C. Elliott covered both fests. Here is her report, with her extraordinary photos in the gallery.
