Born in Folsom, California, Jorgensen graduated from Folsom High School in 1936 and attended Sacramento City College from 1937 to 1938. His nickname, Spider, originated from his time at Folsom High School, according to Baseball Digest writer Phil Elderkin. Elderkin wrote in 1998 that Jorgensen wore a pair of black shorts with a vertical orange stripe on the sides while playing basketball, which prompted a teacher to tell the students that Jorgensen reminded him of a black widow spider he killed in a woodshed. The nickname, while random, stuck with Jorgensen.\n', '

In 1940, Jorgensen participated in a Brooklyn Dodgers’ tryout camp in San Mateo, California. 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. At age 21, he was assigned to the Dodgers’ Santa Barbara team in the Class C California League. In his first pro season, Jorgensen appeared in 140 games and batted .332 with nine home runs and 43 doubles, earning the league’s Most Valuable Player award and helping Santa Barbara win the league championship.\n', "

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. While in Texas, Jorgensen met Lenore Jones, whom he married in October 1946. Lenore had two children from a previous marriage, and the couple had a daughter, Jonel. Jorgensen and Lenore were married until her death in 1995.\n", '

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