Born November 3, 1919, Folsom, California. Died November 6, 2003, Upland, California, age 84.John Donald Jorgensen is a real person. He was born at home in Folsom, California, in a little house on Natoma Street on November 3, 1919, the youngest of the seven children of Raymond and Winifred Rose (Carney) Jorgensen. As a kid, he was called Babe.Babe attended Granite Grammar School and Folsom High School, graduating in 1936. In high school he earned the name Spider because he looked like a spider on the basketball court. Of course, he also played baseball in high school. He went on to Sacramento Junior College, playing second base and later third base; then he played in the old Placer-Nevada Semipro Baseball League where he was discovered by Brooklyn scout Bill Svilich.Spider joined professional baseball in 1940 when he signed a contract with Brooklyn and played with Santa Barbara in the California State League. Soon after, his baseball career was interrupted by military service. From 1941 to 1945 he was an Army Air Corps tech sergeant and manager of the post baseball team at Biggs Field in El Paso, Texas. In 1946 he married Lenore Cyclone Jones in El Paso. After military service, Spider returned to the Dodger organization with the Montreal Royals, which won the International League, the playoffs, and the Junior World Series.On April 15, 1947, Little Johnny Jorgensen joined the major leagues when he was called up to play with the Brooklyn Dodgers on opening day. From a May 14, 1947, newspaper clipping: I was going to try it for one more year in the minors, and then if I didn't come up with the Dodgers I was going to throw in the sponge, said Johnny Jorgensen, the new Brooklyn third baseman. On opening day at Ebbets Field against the Braves, he was the regular Dodger third sacker. He came up with 24-hour notice from Montreal; his gear went to Montreal and he headed to Ebbets Field. Spider replaced the injured Arky Vaughan. He had to borrow a pair of baseball shoes and a glove. The glove belonged to Jackie Robinson, who also played his first game in the majors on April 15, 1947. A line drive hitter, Jorgensen helped spark Brooklyn to the 1947 pennant and World Series against the New York Yankees. Spider played with the Dodgers for 3- Show less «