 Meanwhile, McDonald oversaw the development of recreational facilities, athletic playing fields, and organized sports for Ohio Works employees.Along with his brother, Thomas, he co-founded a minor league baseball team, the Youngstown Ohio Works, which won the premier championship of the Ohio–Pennsylvania League in 1905 and took the league pennant again in 1906.McDonald also sponsored the Youngstown Champs, which replaced the Ohio Works team and won the league championship in 1907.