2023 Team of Distinction

Plant 6 Softball Team

In 1978 in the back room of a restaurant, the Plant 6 softball organization was born by combining the Tontine and Locker Room softball teams. Art Kargen and Benji Bluman were instrumental in getting the two teams together and, over the next 30 years, Plant 6 never missed a season of competition.

In their very first campaign, Plant 6 captured a Buffalo record of eight of the 14 tournaments they entered. Bluman, along with Rich Evan, Tom Dryja and Bill Tepas, were All-Western New York all-stars that first season and Kargen was selected as manager of the year.

After a few seasons of playing, Plant 6 won the City of Buffalo’s softball league three years in a row and they were subsequently banned from playing in any leagues in Western New York.

The Plant would start playing in April and end in September and they oftentimes traveled south to play in winter Tournaments, as well. Over the 30-year period the team competed they participated in 450 tournaments and won 208.

The commitment to be part of Plant 6 was enormous as the team played in 15-20 tournaments a year, with most of those outside the WNY area. Over the years, they competed in 13 states and Canada. In all, the team had close to 100 men wear the Plant 6 uniform. Most notable was Dave Niemann, who was with the organization from the very beginning to the very end.

Many of the Plant 6 players were high school, college and minor league baseball players. Their players were consistently MVP’s of the Tournaments they entered and many of the players would make the All-American Team in State and National Tournaments.

Plant 6 played in Canada many times and in 1990 they were the Ontario National Champs. Another record they were proud of is that they won the Marcus Park Tournament in Olean, NY six years in a row. Over 30 years of play, Plant 6 became synonymous with quality softball play representing Buffalo, NY.

Plant 6 is proud to have 25 of its players in the Western NY Softball Hall of Fame.