I saw a baby apple tree today in somebody's yard and I was really surprised. I didn't think they would survive in San Antonio Texas (Zone 8). I would like your educated opinion about this.

They will grow, but chances are that you won't get any fruit south of about the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Apple trees require a period of cold/dormancy that you're probably not going to get there. I think you might get some nice blooms, but without the dormant period, I'm not even sure about that.

You would probably do better with peaches; certainly they do NOT like cold temperatures at all.

I grew up in Waco, and never saw apples on a tree until I moved up to Dallas, and even then, they were rare. Now I live in Washington state, and you can't walk 100 feet without seeing an apple tree! :-)