By Andy Loigu

Ryan Callahan, a three-sport letter winner at Warren Hills High School and Hunterdon/Warren scholar athlete honoree in his senior year, now is living his dream working for the New York Yankees as manager of digital and social content.

“The  best way to describe working for the Yankees can be done in one word, surreal,” he told this writer in a social media message. “I grew up idolizing Derek Jeter and cherishing every moment I got to experience Yankee Stadium. Now, the stadium is my office and just this summer I was in Cooperstown covering Jeter’s induction into the Hall of Fame.”

He related that he and other staffers put together a video tribute about Jeter’s magnificent career, narrated by Billy Crystal. “I had the honor of writing and scripting it,” he continued. “It’s something my five-year-old self would not have believed.”

Just like only a select few who have mastered the requisite skills get the chance to play in the major leagues, Callahan also had an arduous journey to reach the position within the Yankees’ organization which he now enjoys.

At Warren Hills (class of 2013) he served on the Student Council and was inducted into the National Honor Society, something that only happens to students who work diligently at their academics.

In addition to all the time and energy he devoted to sports year round, he also volunteered to assist community services in doing noble work. As a member of the Cops and Kids Foundation, he read books to young at-risk children. He put his nose to the grindstone in service to Habitat for Humanity and the Appalachian Service Project by rebuilding homes for less fortunate people in Warren County.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in television and film from DeSales University, where he played varsity basketball and baseball, in 2017. Among his many activities, he produced, filmed, and edited sports related documentaries as a freelancer, working his way through school. That summer he assisted the operations team at ESPN with their live coverage of the US Open of Tennis in New York, the big time.

For over two years he worked for the National Basketball Association in the roles of content creation and digital media operations. He cut highlights of game action for the NBA’s social media platforms and edited short-form and long-form videos.

Now, he’s starting his third year with the Yankees, promoted from coordinating digital and social content to managing it.

Working for the Yankees, he wrote, “is a total team effort with everything we do. The object is to bring the most exciting and interesting content to the fans.”

He thanked Stephi Blank, one of his first supervisors, “for teaching me what it takes to work for a brand as huge as the Yankees.” He also credited Blank with developing him into a more creative thinker.

Phil Rizzuto and Mel Allen would say, “Holy Cow,” and “How about that!”

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Ladies and gentlemen, Elvis has left the building.