I missed that and never heard the quote before... thanks... Clarkie should know.
Van Imp anchored the Defense of the three SCF Teams and the entire D were pretty much rock solid... but the young Jimmy Watson to me was the D-man who was the steady all around who could be counted on Game in and Game out; he showed up and was there when most needed. There may have been some who were better in a particular aspect, but none that was as solid in every aspect, IMO.
What prevented Jimmy from being more of a household name today and kept his numbers down was the fact that his career was not able to last as long as it would have had his injuries not finally forced his retirement --
IIRC it was his back, but I could be wrong without double checking on it -- I believe half his Seasons earned him an All-Star nod.
Personally he was one of my favorites among a group of characters that garnered much more attention from the fans and he never got the respect he deserved from the casual fans who were swept up by the Broad Street Bullies and the personalities that abounded on the Team... But the more grounded fans who were there before the Bullies and stayed well after recognized his worth and appreciated him. To us his snub was downright a crime... and to me, seeing his more outspoken and outgoing brother Joe get in the Flyers Hall a couple decades back while Jimmy seemed to not even be considered merely added salt to our wounds.
This day in my eyes is vindication that can never be fully explained... a day that I feared might never arrive as the younger fans pushed for the great players that they grew up with and followed... To most of the younger fans Jimmy is merely a name they hear the old farts like me speak of with fondness.
... Jimmy, you are finally where you have so long belonged... beside the other great players who wore the Orange and Black.