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History Brief

The Franchise #18 team was based south of the border in Mexicali for nearly 65 years, beginning in 1902. However, in 1911, needing time off to pursue his pharmaceutical studies, Al Keefer signed a 2-year caretaker agreement with Dave Norlander, heir to a Swedish fur-trapping monopoly fortune. The team was moved north to Minnesota for a 2-season run beginning in 1912. Norlander died suddenly during the latter half of the 1913 season. Assuming control of Franchise #18 in a 6-year deal was trapper Jeffrey Hobbs, who moved the team even further north to Barrow, Alaska. Following that agreement, the franchise was returned to Mexicali in 1921.