I have a similar Melky bat with the same manufacturing date but it had a much shorter life. It has a rubber-grip type wrap on the handle which I'd compare to a tennis racket. I imagine if removed it wouldn't show much. I also have a Posada black 320M which Melky used to hit career HR #24, one of 5 Yankee homers that day, 4/17/09, for their first win in the new Stadium. Only some pine tar on that one.