Sanders began the 1946 season as the Braves' regular first baseman, but he suffered a severe arm injury in August in a collision with Erv Dusak and missed the rest of the season. Hopp, who had also been acquired by the Braves during the previous offseason, once again filling in for him. Sanders, whose arm had been broken in three places missed the entire 1947 season as well. Meanwhile, Earl Torgeson had entrenched himself as the Braves' starting first baseman in the interim.