The Daily News newspaper popularized “Big Apple” by selling T-shirts, sweat shirts and beach towels in 1975 and 1976. The first ad was printed on July 13, 1975, and the last ad on August 5, 1976.
 
 
Newspapers.com
13 July 1975, Sunday News (New York, NY), pg. 95, col. 1 ad:
NO. 1 IN THE BIG APPLE
BIG APPLE T-SHIRTS
BIG APPLE SWEAT SHIRTS
 
Newspapers.com
19 July 1975, Daily News (New York, NY), pg. 26, col. 3 ad:
NO. 1 IN THE BIG APPLE
BIG APPLE T-SHIRTS
BIG APPLE SWEAT SHIRTS
BIG APPLE BEACH TOWELS
 
Newspapers.com
16 November 1975, Sunday News (New York, NY), Living sec., pg. 58, col. 2 ad:
NO. 1 IN THE BIG APPLE
BIG APPLE T-SHIRTS
BIG APPLE SWEAT SHIRTS
 
Newspapers.com
11 July 1976, Sunday News (New York, NY), Leisure sec., pg. 12, col. 5:
Feel at Home
In a Big Apple
NO. 1 IN THE BIG APPLE
BIG APPLE T-SHIRTS
BIG APPLE SWEAT SHIRTS
BIG APPLE BEACH TOWELS
   
Newspapers.com
5 August 1976, Daily News (New York, NY), pg. B12, col. 2 ad:
NO. 1 IN THE BIG APPLE
BIG APPLE T-SHIRTS
BIG APPLE SWEAT SHIRTS