Who was Joe DePugh? All about Bruce Springsteen’s childhood friend and inspiration for Glory Days as he dies at 75

Joe DePugh, the former Freehold, New Jersey baseball player who led a life that inspired Bruce Springsteen’s hit song Glory Days died at the age of 75. Springsteen paid tribute to his childhood friend in a heartfelt post on social media, where he wrote:

"He was a good friend when I needed one. He could throw that speedball by you, make you look like a fool — Glory Days my friend,"

Joe DePugh and Springsteen were childhood pals in Freehold. They attended Freehold Regional High School together, where DePugh excelled as an athlete.

As Springsteen sat on the bench, DePugh was the star pitcher, a dynamic that became a running joke between the two for the rest of their lives. According to the Times Leader, DePugh went on to play college basketball at King’s College in Pennsylvania but was better known for his baseball skills, the ones that inspired that song, ultimately.

Although the two lived different lives, they stayed in touch over the years. DePugh, a painting contractor, lived somewhere between Florida and Vermont.

Both occasionally met at events, including a memorable 2004 concert at Giants Stadium, where Springsteen greeted him from the stage. In 2005, the two met again over dinner and spent hours reminiscing about their childhood.

The story behind how Joe DePugh influenced Bruce Springsteen’s hit song Glory Days

The story of Glory Days dates back to a 1973 encounter at a bar called The Headliner in Neptune, New Jersey. Joe DePugh was finishing a basketball game and leaving a bar when he ran into Bruce Springsteen.

The two reminisced about their younger years, including Little League, high school, and shared experiences. Remembering their conversation, DePugh said in a 2011 Times Leader interview:

"We went back in and started talking about grade school, the nuns we had, Little League and high school. The ‘glory days,’ just like the song says."

That night inspired the song’s lyrics, which talk about running into an old ballplayer who can’t stop reminiscing. When Glory Days came out in 1985, along with Born in the USA, DePugh instantly saw himself in the lyrics. He said in a statement:

"I knew immediately it was about me. It described exactly what happened that night. It’s never been a mystery — everybody who knew me knew the song is about me."

Joe DePugh also said their dynamic had not changed, with the iconic singer still being the quiet and humble kid he always was.