How baseball has helped immigrants become American

"If soccer is the world's game, then baseball belongs to those who have left their worlds behind."

So writes the Irish author Colum McCann in an essay included in Chasing Dreams: Baseball and Becoming American.

The book is a companion volume to an exhibition of the same name at the National Museum of Jewish American History in Philadelphia. It explores how baseball became a touchstone for new immigrants and a way to access the American dream.

Curator Josh Perelman talked to the BBC about how America's pastime was in turn shaped by these immigrants.

Some images courtesy of Getty. Michael Bernbaum's essay excerpt has been modified for video.

Produced by the BBC's Kate Dailey and Bill McKenna; filmed by Markus Zeffler

Picture This is a series of video features published every Thursday on the BBC News website which illustrate interviews with authors about their new books.