Bruce Springsteen paid tribute to former Little League pal Joe DePugh, who died in Florida of cancer at age 75. DePugh and Springsteen ran into each other at a bar in 1973, which inspired the hit "Glory Days.

Joe DePugh of Freehold, who inspired the Springsteen hit “Glory Days” after a chance encounter at the Headliner of Neptune, has passed away. He was 75.

If Bruce Springsteen’s song stands true, Joe DePugh was quite the baseball player back in his “Glory Days.” DePugh, who inspired Springsteen’s iconic song, has died after a battle with cancer at 75 years old.