Jorgensen made his MLB debut for the Dodgers on April 15, 1947, the same day teammate Jackie Robinson broke the professional baseball color line.

His nickname, Spider, originated from his time at Folsom High School, according to Baseball Digest writer Phil Elderkin.

He impressed scouts Tommy Downey and Bill Svilich so much that, after graduating from Sacramento City College in 1941, he was offered a contract with the Dodgers.

Two months after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, Jorgensen paused his baseball career and enlisted in the U.S. Army.

He was assigned to the Army Air Corps, eventually reaching the rank of technical sergeant, while serving at duty stations in Idaho, Arizona, and Texas.

Discharged from the U.S. Army in 1945, Jorgensen returned to professional baseball with the Montreal Royals, the Dodgers' Class AAA affiliate.

However, injuries to infielders Cookie Lavagetto and Arky Vaughan led the Dodgers to keep Jorgensen on the major-league Opening Day roster.

“I came into Ebbets Field on Opening Day, scared to death," Jorgensen later told writer Phil Elderkin.

So I really didn't have time to get nervous.” While his debut was overshadowed by Robinson's, Jorgensen drew a walk and drove in a run in three at-bats.

Two days later, on April 17, 1947, Jorgensen had arguably the best game of his career when he recorded a home run and two doubles for six combined RBIs.

He permanently damaged his arm by throwing too aggressively during spring training, leading his career to quickly decline.