Boston Red Sox owner Joseph Lannin bought the Providence Grays and Melrose Park from the Tigers for $75‚000.

Detroit got to pick one player from the Providence roster and they selected Oldham‚ overlooking Carl Mays.

On April 5, 1916, the Tigers released Oldham to the San Francisco Seals of the Pacific Coast League "under optional agreement.

Shortly after an interview in which he told a reporter that "his aim was to use tact and diplomacy" in dealing with players, Cobb called time-out from his position in center field, "ran in, wrested the ball from pitcher Red Oldham's hand, and gave him a dressing-down before calling in a reliever.

The El Paso team, however, caught them at their game and refused to play if Oldham participated.

Then, in the top of the 9th inning, Oldham entered the game with the heart of the Washington lineup coming to bat.

He struck out Sam Rice looking, got Bucky Harris on a lineout to second base, and finished the game by striking out Goose Goslin looking.

In his seven major league seasons, Oldham appeared in 176 games (92 as a starter) and had a record of 39–48 with 292 walks, 267 strikeouts, and an ERA of 4.15.