How much WWII credit does he deserve?

An auspicious moment for Red to become eligible, just after he won his first World Series as a manager (not that his managing has anything to do with his HoM candidacy.)

His skinny little middle infielder's back was ill-suited to carrying a 12-letter name. Question: are then any other players with 2-syllable last names with 12 or more letters?

On the always-uncertain question of the American pronunciation of various German umlauts and dipthongs: the first syllable of his name was usually pronounced (by announcers and commentators) as "shane". And the "n" should be sounded in the second syllable, although you couldn't always hear it, especially when someone was speaking quickly.

How much WWII credit does he deserve?

That's a tough case.

1942 - 19 - Signed by the Cardinals
1943 - 20 - Rochester (International League MVP)
1944 - 21 - Army (discharged after a year due to eye problems)
1945 - 22 - Cardinals-LF (OPS+ 78)
1946 - 23 - Cardinals-2B (OPS+ 86)

What position was he playing in Rochester? Could explain why he could not displace the Cardinal 2B Emil Verban.

I'm inclined to call the whole thing a wash. Sure, being IL-MVP translates to "ready-for-1944", but it took the opening caused by the drafting of Musial/Litwhiler to give his corner-outfield job in 1945 where he proceeded to hit like a middle-infielder. Then managed to beat out Verbin & Klein for the 2B job the next year (after winning the battle, Verbin ended up getting traded and Klein jumped to the Mexican League).

So, ignoring that 1945 needs a double-discount due the war and LF-vs-2B is enough of a war credit for me. Though I admit that's an especially lazy way to give war credit. :-)

Well, he's definitely behind Nellie Fox, IMO. He's got to be behind Dick Bartell, who hit just as well, and was a SS.