Why is New York City referred to as “The Big Apple?” This is a question that is asked offend in the New York City section of Y!A and there are many ways to answer it.
However, the true meaning of why New York City is sometime known as “The Big Apple” dates back to the days of jazz and horse racing.
In the 1920s John J. Fitzgerald, a sports reporter for The New York Morning Telegraph, first popularized the City’s moniker in a number of articles in reference to New York ’s horse racing industry. Mr. Fitzgerald explained the used of the moniker in a February 18, 1924 , column under the headline "Around the Big Apple":
The Big Apple. The dream of every lad that ever threw a leg over a thoroughbred and the goal of all horsemen. There's only one Big Apple. That's New York.
Two dusky stable hands were leading a pair of thoroughbred around the "cooling rings" of adjoining stables at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans and engaging in desultory conversation.
"Where y'all goin' from here?" queried one.
"From here we're headin' for The Big Apple," proudly replied the other.
"Well, you'd better fatten up them skinners or all you'll get from the apple will be the core," was the quick rejoinder.
It was not until the 1970s when Charles Gillett, then the President the New York City Convention and Visitors Bureau (today known as NYC & Company), began using the moniker in its ad campaigns promoting the City. Since then, “the Big Apple” moniker has remained very popular.
The New York Mets even uses a giant apple that rises from a hat whenever a Mets player hits a home run. The tradition started at Shea Stadium and its now part of the team’s new home, Citi Field.
In 1997, then Mayor of New York City, Rudy Giuliani, signed a legislation designating the southwest corner of West 54th Street and Broadway, the corner on which John J. Fitzgerald resided from 1934 to 1963, as "Big Apple Corner” as part of his contribution to the City of New York.
Now, you know why NYC is sometime referred to as “The Big Apple.”
