Bruce Springsteen Pays Tribute to Joe DePugh, Behind ‘Glory Days’

Bruce Springsteen has paid tribute to Joe DePugh, the New Jersey pitcher who impressed his hit music “Glory Days,” following information of DePugh’s dying this week on the age of 75.

“Only a second to mark the passing of Freehold native and ballplayer Joe DePugh,” Springsteen wrote in an Instagram publish on March 30. “He was a very good good friend after I wanted one. ‘He may throw that speedball by you, make you appear like a idiot’ …. Glory Days my good friend.”

DePugh and Springsteen grew up collectively in Freehold, N.J., and performed baseball in the identical youth league. Their now-legendary likelihood encounter at a bar in 1973 served because the real-life foundation for one of the vital iconic verses on Springsteen’s Born in the united statesA. album.

DePugh later confirmed the second in interviews, recalling how the 2 reconnected exterior the Headliner in Neptune, then spent hours catching up inside.

“Each time we’re collectively, it’s the identical dynamic: I’m the star and he’s the man on the finish of the bench,’ mentioned DePugh to the Palm Seaside Put up in 2011. “That’s who he has all the time been to me, my proper fielder.”

” … As soon as I noticed Bruce we went again in and closed the place. He had a bit entourage with him. All of them sat in a sales space, however it was simply me and him on the bar. Unexpectedly, it’s 1:30 (a.m.) they usually began blinking the lights.”

“Glory Days” reached No. 5 on the Billboard Scorching 100 in 1985, and DePugh instructed the Palm Seaside Put up that he was “tickled pink I might even get into the music.”

“After I first heard the music, I believed the music mentioned ‘and all we stored speaking about was glory days,’ “ mentioned DePugh. “And years later, I lastly noticed the lyrics and noticed ‘all he stored speaking about was glory days.’ And I believed, ‘Huh, (he) took a bit shot at me!’

DePugh and Springsteen remained associates all through their lives, often crossing paths in Palm Seaside County, the place Springsteen owns a house and DePugh lived in Lake Value.

DePugh died after a battle with most cancers. He’s remembered fondly by associates, together with longtime Freehold trainer and coach Wealthy Kane, who mentioned: “All he wished to do was increase his brothers, play baseball, play basketball and simply dangle in Freehold Borough. This one damage. Joe and I had been very shut.”