Pedzisa mutsara unotevera: Oates akange atorwa kuti atore platoon pamwe naBob Boone mwaka wa1976 zvisinei, mumutambo wekuvhura mwaka uchipesana nePittsburgh Pirates, akapwanya pfupa rake rekona pakurwisana neDave Parker uye akarasikirwa nehafu yemwaka. "Mutambo iwoyo wakachinja basa rangu", akadaro pashure. Akadzoka kuzobatsira Phillies kukunda 1976 National League Eastern Division pennant. Oates aiva nechitarisiko chimwe cheplate somunhu anobaya mupinch mu
1976 National League Championship Series sezvo Phillies yakarasikirwa nemukundi wenyika wekupedzisira Cincinnati Reds. Mushure memwaka, akatengeswa kuLos Angeles Dodgers musi waDecember 20, 1976.