The Duval Giants of Jacksonville, Florida, were lured to Atlantic City, New Jersey by Mayor Harry Bacharach in 1916, and thus acquired their unique name of the Bacharach Giants.  They played at Bacharach Park on South Carolina Avenue until the mid ‘30s.

They were one of the strongest Eastern clubs of the pre-league era, and they were associate members of the Negro National League from 1920 to 1922.  In fact, in 1922 there were two Bacharach teams, one in New York City, the other still based in Atlantic City.  Most of the great black players were with the Bacharachs at one time or another.

The Bacharach Giants joined the Eastern Colored League in 1923.  They finished fourth at 19-23 that first year.  They were again fourth in 1924 (30-29) and 1925 26-27).  In 1926, led by the hitting of “King Richar” Lundy and Oliver “Ghost” Marcelle, and the pitching of Arthur “Rats” Henderson, Claude “Red” Grier, and Luther Farrell, the Giants won the ECL flag with a 34-20 record.  They then played 11 games against the Chicago American Giants to determine a World’s Champion.  Despite a third game 10-0 no-hitter by Grier, Chicago prevailed five games to three.

1927 was an even better year.  The Giants took both halves and finished 54-35.  In game five of the World Series, Luther Farrell pitched a no-hitter but again Chicago won five games to three, with one tie.  In 1928, the ECL broke up and the Bacharach Giants were a poor 19-45 in the 1929 American Negro League.  From 1930 to 1933 they played independently.  The Bacharachs briefly rejoined the newly organized NNL during the second half of 1934, and then became a semi-pro local entry in Eastern circles.  In fact, the 1934 team was based in Philadelphia.  Some of the stars who played with the Bacharachs during the glory years were, Nap Cummings, Lundy, Marcelle, Roy Roberts, and Chaney White.