Triple Crown hero American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) won the on-line readers' poll for Sports Illustrated's 2015 Sportsman of the Year, the magazine announced Sunday. American Pharoah won 47% of the vote when the poll closed Saturday night. Voting included 11 other candidates across all major sports who embodied the spirit of sportmanship and achievement for the year. The Kansas City Royals came in second place in the on-line voting with 29% of the vote and Lionel Messi finished in third place with 6%. Of the 588,988 votes cast, 278,824 SI readers chose American Pharoah, the first Triple Crown winner in 37 years, as their Sportsman of the Year. Sports Illustrated's editors will reveal their choice as Sportsman of the Year Monday on SI.com and on the Today Show.
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