In 93 games played, he hit six home runs, and had a .291 batting average. He began the 1886 baseball season playing for, and managing, the Nashville Americans of the Southern Association. In August, he issued a fine of $25 to pitcher Ed Dundon, who was a deaf-mute; Goldsby feeling that he had intentionally allowed an opposing player to hit a home run. This turned out to be a very unpopular decision among his team members, as well as the local press. On September 2, it was reported that Goldsby was suffering from a bout of malaria. By the middle of September, he was no longer playing for Nashville, and had signed with the Washington Nationals of the National League. With the Nationals, he played in six games and collected just four hits in 22 at bats for a .222 batting average. Goldsby returned to the minor leagues in 1887, becoming the player-manager of the Topeka Golden Giants of the Western League. He had the best season of his minor league career, batting a .422 average, scored 112 runs, hit 13 doubles, and nine triples. The following season, he continued his role as a player-manager, though he moved to the Birmingham Maroons of the SL. After a meeting of SL officials in New Orleans, it was determined that league would be accepted into the National Agreement and agree to respect the reserve clause. However, the teams were not able to contribute the money necessary to bind the agreement and secure the right to reserve their own players, so many of them decided to take larger offers from other leagues. Goldsby was one of these, and by mid-July, had accepted an offer with the Baltimore Orioles of the AA. He played in 45 games for the Orioles through the remainder of the season, compiled 17 stolen bases, and had a .236 batting average. Though he was listed among the Baltimore players that had been reserved, he never again played in another major league. After being released by the Orioles in March 1889, he joined the Evansville Hoosiers of the Central Interstate League as their player-manager. On June 12, he suffered a bout of partial-paralysis of his right side. He was diagnosed with acute rheumatism, that had affected his brain. He had been playing for weeks while feeling ill, causing him to suffer anxiety. During the previous season, in a game against the Philadelphia Athletics, he was hit the head with a ball, causing him to lose consciousness. He complained of total memory loss of the day.