Oates had been designated to platoon alongside catcher Bob Boone in the 1976 season however, in the season-opening game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, he cracked his collar bone in a collision at home plate with Dave Parker and missed almost half the season [REF].
With the Dodgers, Oates worked as a second-string catcher behind Steve Yeager and, would once again reach the post-season as, the Dodgers clinched the 1977 National League Western Division title [REF].