First “Big Apple” explanation: February 18, 1924

Above, the header from the February 18, 1924 New York (NY) Morning Telegraph newspaper column of John J. Fitz Gerald. Click to see a portion of the column which includes his use of "Big Apple." Part of a December 1, 1926 column is also available and is discussed here..

Track writer John J. Fitz Gerald (1892-1963) first explained his"Big Apple" catch phrase in the New York (NY) Morning Telegraph on February 18, 1924. He had been using "Big Apple" in his columns since at least May 3, 1921, meaning the "big time" or "big reward" of New York's big money race courses.

An apple graphic is featured in the column head. From right to left on the apple's design of the New York City skyline appear to be the Woolworth Buidling (then the world's tallest building), the Park Row Building and the Municipal Building.

The column's second section reveals that Fitz Gerald had picked up the term from "dusky" (black) stable hands at the New Orleans Fair Grounds, who were discussing where a winning horse would be shipped.

The column's opening text is now famous. From the New York Morning Telegraph, "AROUND THE BIG APPLE" with John J. Fitz Gerald, February 18, 1924:


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.

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Two dusky stable hands were leading a pair of thoroughbreds 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.