For those in attendance, there was no other place they would have wanted to be, despite the gray skies and the light rain. They were all there to dedicate a new sign that hung in the upper left-hand corner of the backstop, bearing the name of the late former head coach, who passed away in 2022.

Concern for the original’s deterioration prompted a collective effort to replace it. And, fittingly, it was current Falconer coach, Fred Carder, who unveiled the new one, which was designed by Scott Reagle and produced by AKS Sign Designs and Marketing.

“I have a lot of memories of Coach,” Carder said of Meszaros, who recorded 509 career victories, 10 Section VI titles and a state championship, and was inducted into the Chautauqua Sports Hall of Fame in 2008. “I want to strive to be like Coach Meszaros. I hope that I can do that. That’s one thing that’s very important to me.”

Falconer Superintendent Steve Penhollow acknowledged Meszaros’ passion for America’s pastime, but he also reminded everyone that the latter was a “great teacher,” too.

S closeup view of the sign, which was unveiled Saturday morning on the campus of Falconer Central School. Photo courtesy of Steve Garvey

“He also taught kids about life in general,” Penhollow added. “He taught them about the sport and how the sport isn’t always fair and you don’t always get what you want, but if you show up every day, work hard and do your best, good things will happen.”

That was particularly true in the spring of 2000 when Falconer started the season 2-4, but sent the retiring Meszaros out in style by winning its last 13 games, including a 5-3 nine-inning victory over Saratoga Catholic in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class C title contest.

“It’s hard to believe it’s been 25 years,” Falconer athletic director Dave Nelson said.

When the comments were completed, a photo was taken of the assembled gathering, which also included Leslie and Rachel Berg, who traveled from Pittsburgh to honor their father and grandfather.

But that wasn’t even Saturday’s most memorable moment.

Hours after Saturday’s unveiling, a rainbow formed above Denny Meszaros Field. Photo courtesy of Leslie Berg

A few hours later, I received a text from Reagle — the sign designer — that included a photo that Leslie Berg had sent him of the field. The difference between her photo and the ones taken late in the morning was that her image showed the presence of a beautiful rainbow above Meszaros’ beloved diamond.

“My ‘guy’ was there, for sure,” Reagle texted me in response. “Gave me chills.”