In 1890, the National Association of Baseball Players rejected blacks from play: The alleged "gentleman's agreement" that barred black teams from the organized leagues for the next 50 ,years. It was done to prevent "some division of feeling, whereas, by excluding them no injury could result to anyone." That means that if the Association banned black players, they thought that no injury could result to anyone. In the early days of the Major Leagues, some blacks were able to play on traditionally white teams,especially in the more sympathetic North and Midwest. But Jim Crow laws, and racism prevented them from making significant inroads.