Bruce Springsteen shared the news that his former classmate who inspired his early hit “Glory Days” passed away.  His name was Joe DePugh and he died from cancer at 75 years old.

Bruce said, quote, “Just a moment to mark the passing of Freehold native and ballplayer Joe DePugh.  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.”

Bruce and Joe played baseball together in elementary school.  Joe had joked that Bruce’s nickname was “Saddie” because he wasn’t very good and hardly played.

The song came about when they ran into each other in New Jersey in 1973, and Joe kept talking about the “glory days”.