Joe DePugh, who inspired Bruce Springsteen's iconic song "Glory Days," has died at 75 in Florida from metastatic prostate cancer. DePugh was the star pitcher on their Little League team, and despite Springsteen's lack of athletic skills, they remained lifelong friends. Their bond formed during their challenging upbringing in Freehold, New Jersey, where they experienced turbulent home lives. After years apart, they serendipitously reunited in 1973 at a bar, highlighting the enduring connection forged in their early years despite diverging paths into music and sports.
Joe DePugh, a childhood friend of Bruce Springsteen and the inspiration behind "Glory Days," passed away at 75 after battling prostate cancer in Florida.
DePugh's friendship with Springsteen dates back to their Little League days, where Springsteen’s poor baseball skills earned him the nickname "Saddie" from DePugh.
Their reunion at a bar in 1973 after years apart reflects the lasting bond formed during their hardscrabble youth in Freehold, New Jersey.
Bruce and Joe shared a similar troubled upbringing with distant, alcoholic fathers, which strengthened their friendship throughout their early years.
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