Preheat oven to 375°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
In a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together butter and sugar until fluffy. Beat in egg, molasses, ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, and cloves.
In a small bowl, mix together flour, baking soda, and salt. Add flour mixture to wet ingredients and stir until just incorporated. (The dough might seem wet.) Stir in the crystallized ginger.
Pour the sugar into a small bowl. Using a cookie scoop, scoop balls of dough and drop into the sugar. Roll each ball in the sugar to fully coat, then place on baking sheet. Repeat with remaining dough.