Big apple origins redux

[Bapopik at AOL.COM]

  I traced "manzana" origins to the late 1800s. It's a false lead for "the Big Apple."  The "dusky stablehand" was probably not a Spanish speaker, nor Fitz Gerald (his listener).  There is not a single citation for it until it was invented after "Big Apple" became popular, about 30 years later.
  BTW:  Hoosier--Hassar. Illinois people were called "suckers" before 1833--also from a fish.